By Jarra Gojolo — Senior Content Editor
Santa Clara County expressed its disapproval of the Spartans’ plans to leave in preparation for the Arizona Bowl despite admitting it can’t stop them from boarding their Sunday flight.
During Monday’s weekly press conference, SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said returning to Santa Clara County was the “only real option” because of the mental toll the season has taken on his players.
Players haven’t seen their families since they reported to campus July 14.
The Spartans spent 17 consecutive days on the road after the county prohibited contact sports on Nov. 28.
“Our positive case count and close contacts have been very low compared to other Division I programs across the country,” said university representative Kenneth Mashinchi in response to Smith’s comments.
“SJSU respects and values the work the Santa Clara County Public Health Department is doing to keep our community safe,” he added. “Our student-athletes and staff have benefited from the county’s guidance, which has shaped the testing requirements and strict protocols we put in place to create a safe environment.”
Per Santa Clara County rules, anybody who enters from more than 150 miles away is required to quarantine for 10 days.
“We can’t stop them,” Smith said in the story. “Just from a practicality perspective we wouldn’t know when or how or who they were or anything like that.”
Mashinchi said members of the program who lived in Santa Clara County would quarantine at home until Sunday. Players who lived elsewhere immediately departed to their hometowns upon landing, which Mashinchi said was within the rules given by the county.
The only time players and staff would leave their homes would be to get ready to board their flight to Arizona.
Santa Clara County’s rules originally called for a 14-day quarantine of anybody entering from 150 miles away, but shortened the duration last week.
Follow Jarra on Twitter @JarraGojolo