ASU Football: First practice brings a new normal for Herm and company

(Photo: Travis David V Whittaker/WCSN)

With a month left before Arizona State kicks off its 2020 conference-only schedule against USC, the first day of practices left head coach Herm Edwards, the team captains, and the rest of the players accepting a new routine.

Friday was the first day of daily COVID-19 testing for the players and coaches after the Pac-12 and diagnostic test leader Quidel came to an agreement to provide everyday testing for players back on September 3. 

Edwards said testing protocol began at 6:15 in the morning, and all the players had completed their tests in about an hour and a half. Results were given before heading out to the practice field. Every test came back negative. 

“We’re going to do that every day,” Edwards said. “They’re going to do it again tomorrow. Through the course of the week all the way up to gameday, every player will get tested. Coaches will get tested as well. It was very efficient.”

Edwards knows that, although day one of the new testing protocol was a success, it is still crucial for everyone involved with the team to make smart choices outside of the practice facility. 

“The testing allows you to know that at that day, at that point in time, we’re good,” Edwards said. “But, it doesn’t protect you from the virus. What protects you from the virus is making good decisions. We’re good in the bubble but when you leave, what are you doing? That’s the key. The testing is one part of it, which is great. But as you see, we’ve had breakouts in football.”

With Baylor suspending all football-related activities due to recent positive tests and the Tennessee Titans having games rescheduled due to several positive cases, it’s not surprising to see Edwards willing to take charge to avoid a similar outbreak.

ASU has taken many precautions to stop the spread of a potential outbreak, including closing practices to all media and conducting all interviews virtually.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Frank Darby, who was recently named one of the five team captains for this season, still hasn’t lost his signature high-energy personality. But he is serious when it comes to reminding his teammates and the younger guys to be smart off the field.

“Every day, I’m trying to be that captain that says be safe,” Darby said. “Mask up. I’m not one to tell you not to go out or do anything. But if you go out, make sure you got your mask on. Because if I get COVID and I don’t go anywhere, it’s because of you all. I just try to keep reminding them over and over. Stay safe. Stay safe. Stay safe.”

Entering his final year, Darby knows he doesn’t want his last season being jeopardized by a player infected with the coronavirus. Darby said if a player were to be infected, he is out for 21 days or three games.

“We only have six games,” Darby said. “I just try to remind them every day to make sure you’re washing hands and putting your mask on. It’s going to be alright. Just for two months. Lock it in for two months. You don’t need to have company, you don’t need to be at parties. I just need you all dialed in. Let’s get this championship and then we can party after the championship.”

Junior linebacker Darien Butler, the lone returning captain from last season who lead the team with 90 tackles in 2019, has high expectations for how the team will conduct itself during these times. 

“The testing thing is something that has to get done,” Butler said. “Everything is serious over here so you got to make sure you get it done. There’s no excuses not to.”

In addition to having to constantly remind the team about COVID safety protocols, sophomore fullback Case Hatch is one of the captains continuing to use his platform to mentor his teammates.

“I’m definitely a lot more vocal as a person and now in the captain role, I feel like I have to personalize it down to my teammates to get with them and understand them more about what they’re going through,” Hatch said. “If they need help with anything, whether it’s football or working out or school or life, I feel like I just got to be an extra friend for everyone on the team and seek those opportunities to help them out.”

Darby, Butler and Hatch have expressed much excitement about being back out on the field and back to working towards their goal of a Pac-12 Championship. The last thing they want is an outbreak to hinder their journey towards that goal.

“There’s a lot of people in sports that are contracting the virus when they are not in the playing field and when they leave the building,” Edwards said. “That’s what I’m trying to stress to our coaches and our players. We have to be very careful who we socialize with and the positions we put ourselves in.” 

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