LSU Cancels 2020 Spring Football Game Because of Coronavirus Concerns

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward told reporters over a teleconference on Monday that the football team's annual spring game has been canceled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

LSU's spring game was scheduled for April 18 at Southern University's Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The reigning champion Tigers also saw their 12 remaining spring practices canceled when the SEC announced on March 13 the suspension of "all organized team activities, including competitions, team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings" until April 15.

"There's nothing more important than the health and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and community," Woodward said in a statement provided by LSU after practices and workouts were canceled on Friday. "This decision did not come lightly for anyone. This is an extraordinary measure, but a necessary one for the greater good."

LSU announced a university-wide update on Monday afternoon:

Head coach Ed Orgeron was featured in a PSA posted by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Saturday in which he provided tips for people to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19:

The LSU men's (21-10) and women's (20-10) basketball teams were candidates to play in their respective NCAA tournaments, but the NCAA canceled all remaining winter and spring championships, including the men's and women's basketball tournaments, entirely last Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that all gatherings including 50 or more people be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks throughout the United States to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

CNN's latest figures count at least 4,008 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S., and 70 people have died across the country.