Michigan State News & Notes: One athlete tests positive for COVID-19, MSU recognizes Juneteenth, and more

It’s Friday, and there are quite a few things to cover regarding Michigan State Spartans athletics, so I’ve taken the liberty of combining all news and notes with relevant links from throughout the past week (or so) into one easy-to-read post.

• Michigan State student-athletes reported back to campus this week and underwent COVID-19 testing. Of the 124 athletes who were tested, only one tested positive, the university announced. This student will be isolated for 10 to 14 days. One other athlete tested positive from home last week and did not return to campus, while another athlete was already known to have tested positive previously. No MSU staff members tested positive for the virus. The chances were always going to be extremely low that there would be zero positive tests, but the low percentage of positive tests is a good sign for MSU. Those who tested negative will be re-tested again on Monday, and if cleared, can begin voluntary workouts.
• Today is June 19, otherwise known as Juneteenth, which is is celebrated and commemorated as the day that slavery ended in the United States in 1865. Several Michigan State athletics Twitter accounts, as well as student-athletes and staff members, have tweeted out in recognition of the holiday.

• Michigan State also recently unveiled its 11 representatives for the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, which includes football head coach Mel Tucker, athletic director Bill Beekman, President Samuel Stanley, deputy athletic director Alan Haller, associate head strength and conditioning coach/director of player enrichment Lorenzo Guess (shout out to the Wayne Memorial Zebras!), associate athletic director of student-athlete engagement Elliott Daniels, and others, including current student-athletes.
• The NCAA approved a preseason calendar for football and basketball. Here’s what it means moving forward, via the Detroit Free Press.
• Matt Wenzel of MLive writes about how the incoming freshmen for the football team are preparing for an unusual summer.
• The Only Colors has been breaking down the Michigan State football roster by positional group, taking a closer look at each player at the respective position. Follow along here.
• Here is a tragic, but heartfelt story by Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal. Michigan State basketball associate head coach Dwayne Stephens Jr. had to say an abrupt goodbye to his father, who lost his life due to COVID-19.
• The Detroit News picked its best Michigan State football players at each position for the past 25 years.
• ESPN ranked Michigan State No. 8 in its “Way-Too-Early” college basketball top-25.
• Several former Michigan State basketball players will compete in The Basketball Tournament in Columbus in July.
• Michigan State recently announced its spring 2020 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, as well as its major athletic award winners for the 2019-2020 academic year. Cassius Winston (men’s basketball) was honored as the George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year, while the George Alderton Female Co-Athletes of the Year were Valery Plata (golf) and Annie Fuller (cross country/track & field).
• Speaking of cross country, check out our 2019-2020 season recap.
• What are the Jacksonville Jaguars getting in former Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott? I tackled his fit with the Jags in a Q&A piece over on Big Cat Country.
• Paul Fanson’s latest on The Only Colors takes an early mathematical look at Michigan State’s 2020 football schedule.
• The Only Colors Q&A: What will the new offense look like, who are the highest-rated recruits Michigan State has a chance of landing, what is the consensus number of wins in 2020, and much more. You asked, we answered.

There you have it. Follow along with The Only Colors for more Michigan State news, notes and features.