His team's game Saturday against Auburn is postponed until December, and his squad's practices also are on hiatus.
First-year Mississippi State coach Mike Leach isn't precisely sure when he can resume practicing, though he believes it is going to be Thursday.
“We'll practice when we're allowed to reconvene in the building,” Leach said on the SEC coaches' teleconference. “They sterilized the building and all that stuff.”
COVID-19 protocols at both Auburn and Mississippi State are at the root of the two SEC Western division foes' inability to compete this week. They are now scheduled to meet Dec. 12 in Starkville, Mississippi.
Leach also is clear he isn't involved in the decision-making process.
“There's more covid cooks in the kitchen and managers than you can shake your stick at,” Leach said. “I let them make their decision and do pretty much what they ask.”
Both Auburn and the Bulldogs are dealing with increased COVID-19 numbers this week, be it some positive tests or the additional mandatory contact tracing. The SEC in preseason set minimum roster and positional number requirements for all of its member teams. Leach said both Auburn and the Bulldogs were under the 53-man scholarship roster or positional minimums, such as at least seven healthy offensive linemen and minimum numbers of defensive linemen as well.
“Well, I don't know who beat who to the courthouse, so to speak, on the COVID thing, whether auburn got there first or we did,” Leach said. “We test around here all the time and those things started to add up and we were both below the threshold. And then in our case, we have to get tested every day. I'm going to get tested again after this call. So then we're out of the building and then they let us back in (Thursday) from what I understand, and then we'll practice and then of course that's a whole other discussion, what type of practice you're planning to have.
“The reason we can't play this week is because we're limited and there's certain positions it's going to be difficult to practice, anyway.”