Alabama football coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne have tested positive for the coronavirus.
What We Know:
- Saban says he is asymptomatic and he is overseeing team practices via Zoom. Saban informed his players on Wednesday of his diagnosis and told them to be very cautious about the risk of infection. The football program plans to test everyone Thursday.
“I found out earlier this afternoon that I had tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately left work and isolated at home. At this time, I do not have any symptoms relative to COVID, and I have taken another PCR test to confirm my diagnosis . . . Look, I basically feel like when we’re in our own personal bubble here, everybody is in a much safer place. I think as soon as you travel, you get exposed to a lot more things a lot more people.” – Nick Saban
- Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be in charge while Saban is recovering. Saban is hoping he can still have some say in game-time decisions if he has to miss extended time. The NCAA rules do state that there can only be communication between the press box and the team area, so Saban would not be able to communicate with the team during a game if he is quarantined.
- Saban and Byrne are the only team members to test positive as of now. Several other head coaches have tested positive for COVID-19, including Arizona’s Kevin Sumlin and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.
Alabama is currently ranked second in the country and their next game is against No. 3 Georgia on Saturday.
