Charlotte loses another game to COVID-19

For the second straight week and fifth time this season, the 49ers have either lost a game or had one postponed because of the coronavirus

Charlotte coach Will Healy applauds during the first quarter of his team's game at Duke earlier this season (Jaylynn Nash/Pool Photo via AP)

Perhaps no one in college football has been affected more by the coronavirus pandemic than Charlotte.

On Friday, it was announced that the 49ers’ game against Gardner-Webb on Saturday has been canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak and contact tracing within the Bulldogs’ program. It’s the second straight week and fifth time this season that Charlotte has either lost a game or had one postponed because of the virus.

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“I really hate this for both teams, but as we look at the national landscape, these cancellations are becoming more and more common,” 49ers athletic director Mike Hill said in a statement. “Every time we actually play a game, it’s a victory no matter the score. Our resilience is being tested, but we will continue to fight the good fight because our players deserve nothing less.”

The 49ers were supposed to play Middle Tennessee last Saturday, but the game was postponed because of a cluster of positive COVID-19 tests in their program. Coach Will Healy’s team had previously had a nonconference game at North Carolina canceled, while games against Georgia State and Florida International were rescheduled because of outbreaks or false positive testing.

The FIU game has been rescheduled to Dec. 5. There’s still no word as to when or if the Georgia State or MTSU games will be played. 

Charlotte is next scheduled to play at Marshall next Saturday in a Conference USA East Division matchup.