San Diego State's Long fearful of teamwide chickenpox outbreak

Football players can be sidelined by many ailments, but chickenpox is not typically one of them.

Don't tell that to San Diego State, though, which is dealing with three players who have the illness.

"I’m afraid that it might not be just three of them," SDSU head coach Rocky Long told Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Tribune. "The team’s been together for a whole week now. It’s dramatic if we lose a few more. ... What if it hits 10 other ones?"

Offensive lineman Ryan Pope, along with linebackers Tyler Morris and Temerick Harper, have all come down with the ailment.

"Tyler Morris was the first one to get it," Long said. "Temerick Harper sits right next to him in meetings and Pope is Temerick Harper’s roommate. (Senior safety) Trey Lomax is Tyler Morris’ roommate, but Trey had it when he was a little kid."

Long never expected to be dealing with this on his football team.

"I didn’t think anybody got chickenpox anymore," Long said. "Not in the United States. I thought that was done. I was shocked."

It remains to be seen if any other players will become sick or miss any action, as the Aztecs open their season on Sept. 2 against UC Davis.

- With h/t to College Football Talk