A second Boise State player confirms he tested positive for COVID-19; Fans to attend CSU game
Running back Andrew Van Buren is the second Boise State player in as many days to confirm that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Van Buren said Tuesday that he tested positive for the virus over the summer, and his only symptoms were loss of taste and smell.
“It sucks, but we know it’s a next-man-up mentality at all times, whether COVID was a thing or not,” Van Buren told reporters on Tuesday.
Sixth-year senior Sam Whitney said Monday that he also tested positive for the virus over the summer, but he was asymptomatic.
The Boise State football team hasn’t been hit as hard by the virus as many programs around the country, but the number of players missing games because of positive tests is trending in the wrong direction.
The Broncos didn’t have any players out for the season opener against Utah State because of positive tests. One player missed the road game at Air Force because of the virus, and four players were sidelined by it last weekend against BYU.
Players, coaches and trainers are tested three times a week, per Mountain West protocols. Boise State has not identified any of the players who have tested positive.
Van Buren was thrust into action at Air Force and made his first career start against BYU, but not because of a positive test. Starting running back George Holani suffered an apparent leg injury against the Falcons, and he missed last Friday’s game against the Cougars.
There’s been no official word from Boise State if Holani will be available for Thursday’s game against Colorado State (6:05 p.m., FS1), but one thing is sure. The Broncos need more out of the running game than the 61 rushing yards they managed against BYU.
“Not good enough,” offensive coordinator said Tuesday of the Broncos’ offensive performance as a whole. “They didn’t just come in an overpower us. We just didn’t execute. We’ve got to fix ourselves and move forward.”
Van Buren averaged 2.8 yards per carry (16 carries, 45 yards) on Friday. The 6-foot, 230-pound junior has carried the ball 35 times this season for 136 yards and three rushing touchdowns, two of which he scored at Air Force in relief of Holani.
Fans in the stands
There will be fans in the stands in Albertsons Stadium for the second time in less than a week on Thursday when Boise State hosts Colorado State.
Boise State will adhere to the same COVID-19 protocols that were approved by Central District Health for Friday’s game against BYU, a spokesperson for the Broncos said Tuesday morning.
That means about 1,100 fans will be admitted, including 100-200 family members of players, about 275 members of the band and spirit squad and approximately 500 students. Students had until 8 a.m. Tuesday to register for a random drawing for tickets.
Boise State presented its safety plan to the Central District Health Board of Health last Wednesday, adding that it planned to admit 40-50 guests into the Stueckle Sky Center for games and about 35-40 members of the security staff will also be on site.
The CDH Board approved the plan, but said it would send an independent agent to Albertsons Stadium to ensure all health measures were upheld.
CHD Public Information Officer Christine Myron confirmed Tuesday that the health organization did give Boise State the green light to allow fans into Thursday’s game using the same safety plan that was in place for Friday’s home game against BYU.
A negative PCR test for COVID-19 is required for all spectators before entry, and masks and adherence to social distancing guidelines are also required.
Family members will be seated together, and students were asked to register for tickets in pairs but will be prohibited from mingling with other groups. Entry and exit points will also be limited to lessen the chance of exposure in large groups.
Ada County, which falls under CDH jurisdiction, is still in a modified Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan, which prohibits gatherings of 50 or more people. On Monday, a record 364 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ada.
COLORADO STATE AT BOISE STATE
When: 6:05 p.m. Thursday
Where: Albertsons Stadium
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Alex Faust, Evan Moore). That’s channel 146 on Sparklight, 219 on DirecTV and 150 on Dish Network.
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State 2-1, 2-0 Mountain West; Colorado State 1-1, 1-1.
Series: Boise State leads 9-0 (last meeting: Boise State won 31-24 last season in Fort Collins, Colorado)
Vegas line: Boise State by 14
Weather: Low of 32 degrees, 60% chance of rain and snow, 5-10 mph winds
This story was originally published November 10, 2020 at 11:29 AM.
