An hour before these viewing periods took place at Barry University and, the teams decided to cancel. Under the guise of “COVID concerns,” Georgia was the first of the semi-finalists to cut media access. Michigan quickly followed suit. Alabama and Cincinnati do the same in Dallas.
Georgia was already experiencing “COVID concerns” before arriving in Miami. Quarterback JT Daniels was among the players reportedly forced to self-quarantine and did not accompany the Bulldogs on the team’s plane. It’s unclear if the Wolverines are having issues as well. Michigan chose not to allow players to go home for the holidays and instead quarantined them in Ann Arbor before heading to Miami on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of risks in Miami, especially near the Bulldogs’ team hotel. The Intercontinental in Downtown Miami is located next to Bayfront Park, a shopping and dining area frequented daily by cruise ships and international tourists. On Monday evening, the neighborhood was congested with traffic and visitors, who poured into the roads and forced police to close several streets in the city center. A few miles away, traffic stopped on the A1A freeway towards South Beach.
Nonetheless, the Georgia players have said they intend to have as much fun as possible in the competitive atmosphere surrounding a college football playoff semi-final. Sunday evening, they had dinner in the bay on a yacht. Monday afternoon they spent a day at the beach with the families and the traveling team. A trip to the Jungle Island Adventure Park is planned for later in the week.
“It’s exciting,” Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett said shortly after arriving. “I hope we can go to the beach and see what Christmas and the holiday season is like here. Obviously we have a game to win. But the fact that it’s playing out here in Maimi is pretty exciting.
Davis said: “We’re excited to be in Miami but, as we all know, it’s a hot spot for Covid. We just have to make sure we protect ourselves and wear our masks and just enjoy the moment. But bowl week is a great time for team chemistry and getting to know each other better than we already do.
Later that day on Monday, the Orange Bowl announced that Tuesday’s practices were also closed to media. So at least the Bulldogs won’t have to deal with that distraction.
