Although the University of Southern California Trojans planned to face the California Golden Bears this week, officials have postponed the football game for a later date after more players tested positive for COVID-19.
This Saturday's expected game, hosted by the Berkeley team, had already hung in the balance. But after testing confirmed more of Cal’s football players contracted the virus, the schools delayed the matchup Tuesday.
“It was a difficult decision to postpone this Saturday’s game against USC,” Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton told the press Tuesday. “We know how important every one of our games is to our student-athletes, especially our seniors who have been incredible representatives of the program. But it was the right thing to do.”
Cal’s teammates were missing several players for its game Saturday at Arizona. Despite estimating its team is 99% vaccinated, nearly two dozen Cal players tested positive for the coronavirus even before last Saturday’s game. That number grew, forcing this weekend’s cancellation.
“Due to additional impact on specific position groups, we have decided to postpone Saturday’s game,” the statement read. “We have had multiple COVID-19 positives within our program, and we are taking every step we can to mitigate the spread and protect the greater community.”
The Golden Bears’ coach admitted they had hoped to avoid changing the date.
“Our heart goes out to all of the people who enjoy our games in so many ways and especially the players who only get so many chances to go out and play them,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “Postponing this game was a last resort and not an action any of us wanted to take, however it was not possible for us to field a team on Saturday.”
The University of California, Berkeley said it reached out to Pac-12 Conference officials to set a make-up game date "later in the season." The game could reportedly be rescheduled for Dec. 4 if their request is approved.
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