Ole Miss and Baylor healthy going into Sugar Bowl, from a COVID-19 standpoint
NEW ORLEANS — With the Sugar Bowl a day way, both Ole Miss and Baylor are a healthy as they can be, from a COVID-19 standpoint.
During their Sugar Bowl press conference on Friday, both Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Baylor head coach Dave Aranda gave updates on their respective teams pertaining COVID.
When asked if any players might be missing out of Saturday’s game due to a COVID issue, both Kiffin and Aranda gave positive reports and did not feel they would lose any players between now and then.
The schedule leading up to the Sugar Bowl was altered greatly late last week due to the surge brought on the Omicron variant.
Both teams were scheduled to arrive in New Orleans by Monday, but decided to delay that be a couple days and arrived on Wednesday.
“I think they’ve done well,” Kiffin said of his team adapting to the impromptu bubble they found themselves in. “As you guys know, we came down here as late as we could to help that. It’s not been ideal for them from a fun week, but it is what it is. And I think we’re blessed to be in a big-time bowl so they could understand the importance of staying locked down for the most part and being COVID safe over going and having fun.”
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Aranda said he felt his team was in “great shape.”
While both teams are giving positive reports on the COVID front, Ole Miss is also having positive reports on the injury front.
For the first time since September, Matt Corral will have all three of his starting receivers on the field at nearly 100-percent.
Braylon Sanders, Dontario Drummon and Jonathan Mingo are back after each having spent time on the injured reserve for various issues. Mingo is still dealing with a foot issue, but has since reappared in games sparingly in the last month of the season.
Ole Miss offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby was very optimistic about having his full offense at his disposal on Saturday.
“It has been a long stretch,” Lebby said. “I think when you play inside this league and you play the schedule that we’re playing, it’s kind of part of it and comes with the territory. While at the same time, I think we’re
going to step on the field Saturday night as ready as we’ve been since walking into (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) versus Louisville. So, excited about that. Hopefully continue that trend here in the next 24 hours, having all our guys and being ready to roll.”
