Kirk Ferentz’s positive test shows COVID-19 still ongoing threat
Iowa's 65-year old head coach will remain home until Dec. 27
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kirk Ferentz looked and sounded tired during his most recent zoom conference with the media on Wednesday.
He also coughed and cleared his throat several times, and it made you wonder if Iowa’s 65-year old head football coach was ailing.
And then news broke Friday morning that Ferentz had tested positive for the coronavirus and would remain home in isolation until Dec. 27. The press release also said that Ferentz was asymptomatic, although, he certainly didn’t look or sound asymptomatic on Wednesday.
One of the highlights to the regular season is that Iowa avoided having any of its eight games canceled because of COVID-19 health concerns. Iowa is one of just three Big Ten teams to accomplish that, along with Penn State and Rutgers.
Iowa’s postseason game against Michigan for this Saturday was canceled, but by Michigan due to COVID-19 health concerns. The Wolverines had three games canceled this season, as did Wisconsin.
But with Ferentz having tested positive, it shows that the coronavirus still is a serious threat.
Ferentz often looks tired near the end of a season, and it’s not unusual for him to show signs of being less than 100 percent, from having a cough or being hoarse or just looking fatigued.
His job as head coach is very demanding from a time standpoint, and those demands can wear on a person.
Ferentz earlier this week praised his support staff, and the UI medical staff, for creating the safest environment as possible.
And he was right to praise them for a job well done because to have made it through the regular season without any disruptions or cancellations caused by the virus was a worthy accomplishment.
The news about Ferentz shows that this ongoing battle to stay safe during a global pandemic is far from over.
If Kirk Ferentz can test positive for COVID-19 despite all of the precautions and safeguards in place, then anybody can.
This virus is opportunistic and sneaky. It waits for somebody to let down their guard for just a brief moment and then seizes the opportunity.
Ferentz’s age also puts him more at risk from a health standpoint.
More than 300,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19, and it continues to spread in multiple states, including Iowa.
The concern now is who Ferentz might have infected, and who infected him.
Iowa quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe is 67-years old, making him vulnerable.
This virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air, so now you worry that Ferentz is part of a bigger breakout in the athletic department.
The third-ranked Iowa men’s basketball will face top-ranked Gonzaga on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., and the team left Iowa City on Friday.
Gonzaga had its previous five games canceled due to COVID-19 health concerns and hasn’t played since Dec., 2.
A vaccine is on the way, but until it’s available for everybody, there still is a risk of being infected.
Iowa is expected to receive a bowl invitation on Sunday, and Ferentz said earlier this week that the players and coaches are eager to play a ninth game.
“I know there’s some bowls that may hold out,” Ferentz said. “I would assume hopefully things have settled now. I would assume the bowls that are still standing are still going to push forward.
“As long as they do that, as long as one of them will take us, that’s our plan. We want to play another game. I can only speak for me right now.”
Ferentz made those comments on Tuesday, but now three days later, the circumstances have changed dramatically.
He has COVID-19 and getting healthy is more important than any football game.