ASU Football: Edwards details COVID-19 experience

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

Herm Edwards sat in an empty room inside his house and pondered.  It’s all he could do.

Diagnosed with COVID-19, the Arizona State Football head coach could be around no one.  His family left breakfast by the door.  He answered phone calls and texts.  He did nothing but think.

This was Edwards’ time for reflection.

“You think about all the things that are really important in your life,” he said.  “It was important for me to make sure that I was safe and that I kept my family safe.”

ASU has been ravaged by the virus.  An outbreak within the team sprouted the week before the Sun Devils were to take on Cal in Week 2.  What was supposed to be a one game cancellation has turned into three, with multiple players and staff down and out.

“We never anticipated anything like this,” Edwards said.  “For the most part, we did a really good job, and for some reason, we’re sitting where we’re sitting.”

The illness rocked Edwards to his core mentally.

“It’s something that I don’t wish upon anyone,” he said.  “When you think about your life, you take getting up every day for granted.  We tend to have our schedule planned out a day ahead.

“When you have to sit in a room for 10-11 days, it was pretty tough for me.  I’ve never had that in my lifetime.”

During his time in quarantine, larger, more important thoughts than football dawned on Edwards.  He thought about how the disease has ravaged families across the country and how many people have had it worse than him.  The only thing that could compare was 9/11, he said.

“I was coaching the Jets when that took place,” Edwards said.  “I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was tough.

“That went on for about a week or so.  We canceled games and got back.  But this has been different.  It’s been tough on everyone.”

Edwards also mentioned how grateful he was for his players, who despite the relation to football, are more than just those who put pads on for the 66-year-old.  

“It was quite the day for me when I actually came back and saw the players,” he said.  “You don’t realize how much you miss them until they’re taken away from you.”

Edwards says he hopes that ASU can move on and finish its season.  The head coach is adamant to continue the year, citing player development and how long it took to get to the point of playing in the first place.  

But for now, the Sun Devils are still in a waiting game. 

“This is a day-to-day proposition,” Edwards said.  “We knew that going into this.”

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