Image: sxc.hu

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?

The school is now screening every player and staff member for symptoms to avoid a team-wide outbreak – but are they doing enough? Could college football’s Week 1 be in trouble?

Ok, number one, people need to calm down about the swine flu. It’s the flu. Yes, you can die from the flu. Yes, the H1N1 is aggressive. At the end of the end, though, if you treat the symptoms, get rest, and stay hydrated, you’ll be just fine unless there’s some reason that your immune system is compromised (such as you’re very young, very old, or have AIDS). So everyone that is freaking out? CALM DOWN.

That said, the flu, no matter what strain, is very contagious. While I’m ready for football season to start as much as the next fan, I’m wondering whether or not schools with swine flu problems shouldn’t cancel or postpone games. Football is a very contact-friendly sport, and players are gong to play if they possibly can, even if it means hiding some symptoms or getting out of bed while still feeling ill.

Tulane coach Bob Toledo may have jumped for joy when he was at UCLA, but at Tulane, he's just hoping to have enough players to practice for Week One. Image: Newscom

What we don’t want to see is an outbreak at other schools to the point where it becomes a real problem.

I trust that colleges have this under control. Football may just be starting, but students have been participating in other sports. I just hope that players across the country are responsible enough to avoid playing if they could be contagious.

UPDATE: According to reports, 18 players at Tulane have been sidelined. So, it’s good to see that the coaches and administration are making an effort to keep other players as healthy as possible.

Post from: EveryJoe

Pig Flu Hits Tulane: Is Week 1 in Trouble?

Image: sxc.hu

Today, Rivals.com started their 2009 countdown, looking at all 120 teams. We won’t get to see number 1 (cough Florida cough) until mid-August, but today they announced numbers 116 – 120. In other words, the worst five teams in college football. Who’s on that list?

1. North Texas
2. Idaho
3. Western Kentucky
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Tulane

Personally, getting a horrible ranking like that would make me want to work harder to prove them wrong if I was a player on one of those teams. Still, it’s a little deflating to hear that you’re expected to be bad. Really bad.

Good luck to all the teams and players listed as the worst of the worst. I hope you prove them all wrong. Just remember…someone had to be #120…

Post from: EveryJoe

Rivals Names the 5 Worst NCAA-F Teams

Rice 38, Army 31

• Clement Leads Rice To 38-31 Win Over Army at Rice News

Memphis 31, Southern Methodist 26

• Memphis tandem runs wild at Memphis, TN News at Your Street

East Carolina 19, Marshall 16 (OT)

• ECU Tops Marshall in OT, 19-16 at East Carolina Football News
• ECU wins again on overtime FG at News 14

Southern Miss 17, UCF 6

• USM beats UCF 17-6. at What is Rob Up 2
• UCF Around The Web (Morning) at UCF Insider
• It’s over … UCF falls 17-6 to Southern Miss at Knights Notepad

UTEP 37, Louisiana-Lafayette 24

• Loss to UTEP Ends Win Streak at Louisiana-Lafayette Football Headline News

Houston 42, Tulane 14

• Houston 42, Tulane 14 at Mean Green Cougar Red

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 11: Blogging about Conference USA

Mississippi 17, Auburn 7

• Mississippi 17, Auburn 7 at Arkansas Razorback Sports

Arkansas 30, #18 Tulsa 23

• Listen Up Playoff Proponents at Picture Me Rollin
• Final Tailgate of the year: Arkansas vs. Tulsa at Question Certain Perfection?
• Tulsa’s Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas at NCAA Football Fanhouse

Kentucky 14, Mississippi State 13

• UK at Mississippi State at Big Blue Thoughts
• Home Game Review / Replay of my Prediction (Kentucky) at Watch Out! Nails in the Road!
• UK Edges Mississippi State, 14-13 at KY Sports and Scores

#2 Alabama 35, Arkansas State 0

• Alabama – Arkansas State, the full recap at Tide Corner
• Alabama-Arkansas State, the day after… at The Rap Sheet
• Arkansas State From The Couch at Bama Sports Report

#8 Florida 49, #6 Georgia 10

• Thoughts on Georgia/Florida at A Bulldog in Exile
• Perspectives at Battle Hymn Notes
• Georgia Falls To Florida, 49-10 at Georgia Football Headline News

South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6

• FIVE POINTS: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6 at Garnet and Black Attack
• Tennessee Volunteers 6, South Carolina 27: whatever at Rocky Top Talk
• Vols Lose to South Carolina in 27-6 Beatdown at Cincy Vols

#19 LSU 35, Tulane 10

• LSU trumps Tulane, now shifts to Bama at The Inside Source for LSU Athletics
• LSU-Tulane notes at LSU Tigers Football
• Inside the game: Tulane at LSU football at Go Green Wave

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about the SEC

Arkansas 30, #18 Tulsa 23

• Tulsa’s Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas at FanHouse
• Arkansas hands No. 18 Tulsa first loss of season, 30-23 at RazorBlog

#19 LSU 35, Tulane 10

• LSU trumps Tulane, now shifts to Bama at The Inside Source for LSU Athletics
• LSU-Tulane notes at LSU Tigers Football
• Inside the game: Tulane at LSU football at Go Green Wave

Southern Miss 70, UAB 14

• Davis leads Southern against UAB at DJ Football Blitz
• Southern Miss-UAB Postgame Notes at Southern Miss Football News

Rice 49, UTEP 44

• Rice Becomes Bowl Eligible With 49-44 Win Over UTEP at Rice Football News

East Carolina 12, UCF 10

• East Carolina, UCF Game Worst Game Ever at The Penal Leagues
• Pirates Win Thriller in Overtime Over Knights, 13-10 at East Carolina Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about Conference USA

Rice 42, Tulane 17

• Rice-Tulane: De-fense (clap-clap) at Owls
• Rice Routs Tulane, 42-17 at Rice News

Navy 34, Southern Methodist 7

• Mustangs Downed By Navy, 34-7 at SMU Football

Memphis 36, Southern Miss 30

• Southern Miss. In A Miserable Slump at Y’all Sports

#19 Tulsa 49, UCF 19

• UCF Falls to Tulsa at UCF Knights News and Notes
• Tulsa tops UCF at UCF Sports
• Tulsa Cruises Past UCF, 49-19 at Tulsa Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 9: Blogging about Conference-USA

East Carolina against Virginia

• Virginia Tops ECU 35-20 at ECU Pirates
• It’s Gotten Bad Real Fast for ECU at NCAA Football FanHouse

Houston against UAB

• Houston Rallies From 17 Down To Top UAB, 45-20 at C-USA Football News

Memphis against Louisville

• Memphis Falls to Louisville in Slugfest at Memphis Tigers News
• Louisville Tops Memphis, 35-28 at Fandome

SMU against Tulsa

• Tulsa 37, SMU 31: Summary at Dallas News College Sports

Southern Miss against #15 Boise State

• Defense good, offense bad, Southern Miss worse at One Bronco Nation Under God
• Boise State at Southern Miss. Recap at Southern Miss Football

Tulane against UTEP

• UTEP Miners look to keep rolling against Tulane at El Paso Times
• UTEP football team report at UTEP Football

UCF against Miami-FL

• Knights Fall Short at Miami at UCF Athletics
• Gameday blog: UM 20, UCF 14 at Eye on the U

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 7: Blogging about Conference-USA