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As San Diego State's football program grapples with a mumps outbreak, Oregon State is implementing its own safety measures in preparation for the teams' matchup on Saturday. The Aztecs have confirmed more than a dozen cases since mid-September, prompting the Beavers to take action.
Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard revealed on Monday that neither San Diego State nor the Pac-12 had reached out to him personally regarding the outbreak, and he was unsure if other members of the Oregon State community had been contacted. Nevertheless, Shephard stated that his players would be given the option to receive a booster shot of the MMR vaccine before the game.
"We are just taking our own precautions at this point in time," Shephard said during his Monday press conference. "We're making available for our guys to get a booster shot related to the mumps. Most of us have actually had that shot — in order to go to school you pretty much had to have that shot early on. And so this is just an opportunity for us to get a booster on that, make sure we keep our team safe. At the end of the day, this is in my opinion, I see it similar like COVID. We gotta do what we gotta do to keep our team safe. Because that is the No. 1 priority of football organizations, or at least it should be."
Mumps is a contagious respiratory virus that spreads through close contact. San Diego State, which was significantly shorthanded for its Pac-12 opener in Week 5 against Texas State, managed a 31-29 victory to improve to 2-3 on the season. Meanwhile, Oregon State has won three straight games after opening the year with losses to Houston and Texas Tech. The Beavers have emerged as an early contender for the Pac-12 title and a potential College Football Playoff spot, powered by an offense that averages over seven yards per play and nearly 500 yards per game. In Week 5, Oregon State put up 56 points against Colorado State, a performance that led to the first-half dismissal of Colorado State defensive coordinator Tyson Summers.
Key Analysis
Oregon State's decision to offer booster shots reflects a cautious approach to a health concern that could impact competitive balance. With San Diego State already dealing with a depleted roster, the Beavers are ensuring their own team remains at full strength. The outbreak adds an unusual layer of complexity to the game, but both teams are focused on safety and performance as they vie for conference positioning.
Originally reported by yahoo.