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Flu outbreaks, however, can knock down an entire team, and since this strain is so contagious, it is spreading like wildfire across college campuses, where students are always in such close proximity to one another. This isn’t an isolated problem at just a few schools.

My issue is that players are, at times, probably still playing games even though they don’t feel 100%. That leads to outbreaks at other schools, since football is a contact sport. Let’s look at the spread of flu over the past few months:

• Duke: One player was confirmed to have swine flu this August, and dozens of others from the team experienced flu-like symptoms.
• Tulane: A week before their season opener, 27 players had “mild” flu symptoms.
• Washington State: 16 players missed practices right before the season opener, and many also missed the game due to a flu outbreak at the school.
• Georgia: Safety Makiri Pugh tested positive for this strain of the flu and sat out during week one. So far, no other players have reported illness.
• Mississippi: The number of players experiencing symptoms is still growing. We’re sitting at around 30 right now, including quarterback Jevan Snead.
• Wisconsin: So far, at least 10 players have the flu.

None of these school has been as highly affected as Div-II school Stillman, however. They had to cancel their season opener, which couldn’t be rescheduled due to time issues. Ouch.

The problem is that players are worried that missing practices or games is letting the team down. If they are able, they attend, even if they’re still sniffling. Coaches need to be more forceful with players, telling them to stay home and isolate themselves for at least 48 hours before returning to the field. We don’t want to see games get canceled, and we definitely don’t want to see teams lose just because they’re down so many first-string players.

Post from: EveryJoe

Swine Flu: Where Will it Hit Next?

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Yet, coach David Cutcliffe says that the worst is believed to be over. They had enough players healthy to scrimmage this past weekend, which is saying something since up to half of the team was experiencing symptoms believed to be associated with the H1N1 virus. One player has officially tested positive for this strain of flu.

The players have all be debriefed on ways to avoid contracting the swine flu, and sanitizing products have been provided. The football team isn’t the only part of the campus affected by the swine flu, which was confirmed to reach Durham in May.

Hopefully, the team will be tip top by Week One…and I do have one plea for players on the Duke team: if you still have symptoms at all, please don’t hide them or say you’re OK just so you can play. With such close contact, it’s an easy virus to spread, and you don’t want to endanger players on your own team or on other teams.

Post from: EveryJoe

Swine Flu isn’t Keep Duke Down

John Calipari has a team full of talented players, including John Wall — the No. 1 prospect in the nation.

First, Patrick Patterson withdraws from the NBA draft and decides to return to school. Then John Wall, the nation’s number one recruit and lighting-quick point guard, decides to sign with Kentucky.

I’m guessing that Coach Cal is chomping at the bit to get the 2009-2010 basketball season underway.

Even though Kentucky already signed Eric Bledsoe, another talented point guard, Wall is excited to compete for the starting position.

“Being able to play against Eric (Bledsoe) is a big plus,” he said, according to Rivals.com.

Duke, Miami and Florida were also at the top of Wall’s list. But playing for Coach Cal and the situation that has opened up for Kentucky is what ultimately swayed his decision. Wall joins No. 2 ranked prospect DeMarcus Cousins, No. 22 ranked prospect Daniel Orton, Bledsoe (No. 23 overall) and four-star prospects John Hood and Darnell Dodson. (As well as returning star, Patrick Patterson.)

Does anyone really want to question Coach Cal’s move from Memphis to Kentucky at this point?

Visit Rivals.com for John Wall’s scouting report.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

John Wall — No. 1 Recruit — Picks A School

These stats were so impressive that Paulus was once considered the best quarterback in his age group, receiving 53 scholarship offers to play football at the Division I level in college.

Greg Paulus may be throwing a football instead of a basketball once again.

But Paulus’ first love had always been basketball. And when he was given the opportunity to play for one of the most storied and respected programs in college basketball history, he took it. Who can blame him? Some kids grow up dreaming of playing at Duke under the helm of Coach K. Sure, Paulus has gotten teased more than most over his four-year career. But I don’t think his football talent was wasted.

Apparently, the Green Bay Packers were intrigued enough to give Paulus a workout.

We all know that Paulus isn’t going to the NBA. But it looks as though the NFL could be a reasonable back-up plan.

Photo provided by Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Paulus Could Jump To The NFL

Will Greg Paulus find that the NFL is easier than college basketball? (Flickr)

It’d be an extreme longshot for Paulus to be drafted by the NFL, but he does have a lot of football experience. Before deciding to go to Duke to play basketball, Paulus was a highly-recruited quarterback. According to reports, Paulus was offered football scholorships from schools including Miami and Notre Dame.

At Duke, Paulus was mostly a disappointment. He was regarded as a great teammate but he didn’t produce at a very high level. In his senior season, he lost his starting job and averaged only 4.9 points per game. His best season came his sophomore year when he averaged 11.8 points per game.

The news of Paulus’ Packers workout was scooped by ProFootballTalk.com and the Wisconsin State Journal.

Post from: EveryJoe

Duke’s Greg Paulus Works Out for Packers