World News – US – Texas A&M AD on Facial Cover Fine: ‘We Must Stay Disciplined & Stay On Course’

STARKVILLE, Miss – Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said the Aggies were fined by the Southeastern Conference for « side face coverings » – or for lack of 11 A&M’s 41-38 victory over Florida 10 last weekend at Kyle Field

A&M was one of three SEC schools – along with Mississippi and Tennessee – fined $ 100,000 by SEC, according to Sports Illustrated Money is withdrawn from league annual income distribution , Bjork said while in the Mississippi state press gallery Saturday afternoon

Aggies take on Mississippi State and new coach Mike Leach at 3 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium

“It’s a constant dialogue,” Bjork said of staying diligent away from masks during the COVID-19 pandemic “It’s not that anyone is against (the face covers) , it’s just the heat of the moment (and) you’re in a game, trying to educate and it’s hard … it’s hard to communicate … we just have to stay disciplined and stay the course « 

Bjork added that the league makes decisions primarily based on TV camera angles.In addition, at least 21 players from Florida tested positive for COVID-19 in the days following the Gators’ loss to A&M , but Bjork said he was never really concerned about the on-field interaction between the teams leading to several positive viral tests for the Aggies

« All the evidence was related to the game The transmission of gambling was very, highly unlikely, « Bjork said, adding that the evidence was not coming from him but from medical staff

“For me, it all depends on what happens (when the players) leave the facility and stay disciplined and (wear) face covers – these are the things you are concerned about,” Bjork said. “You just have to take test by test « 

“The face coverings (by the fans) were a lot better,” Bjork said of the season opener against Vanderbilt on September 26 at Kyle, “but we have to do better with student spacing, and we can fix it « 

The Aggies (2-1) left next weekend before hosting Arkansas at Halloween Bjork said he was not yet sure if tailgating would return in some form this season. here October 31 games No tailgating on campus was allowed in the first two games

Brent Zwerneman is a writer for the Houston Chronicle covering athletics Texas A&M He graduated from Oak Ridge High School and Sam Houston State University, where he played baseball

Brent is the author of four books published on Texas A&M, three related to athletics A&M He has won the APSE National Top 10 Editorial Award four times for the San Antonio Express-News, including a runner-up for breaking up the scandal of the « secret newsletter » Dennis Franchione in 2007

His coverage of Texas A&M’s transition to the SEC since the Big 12 also saw him finish third nationally in 2012 Brent met his wife, KBTX-TV news anchor Crystal Galny, in Dixie Chicken before a A&M-Texas Tech football game in 2002, and the couple have three children: Will, Zoe and Brady

Southeastern Conference, Ross Bjork, Texas A&M University, Mississippi State Bulldogs football