Crimson Tide photos / Alabama football coach Nick Saban, shown during last weekend’s 63-3 pounding of Kentucky inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, will not attend Saturday’s Iron Bowl after testing positive for COVID-19.The first socially distanced Iron Bowl will include Nick Saban’s absence from Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Saban was informed Wednesday morning that he had received a positive PCR test for the coronavirus and immediately went into isolation at his home. The 69-year-old Alabama football coach had a positive COVID-19 test three days before last month’s showdown with Georgia but then had three ensuing negative tests, which enabled him to coach from the sideline as the Crimson Tide pulled away for a 41-24 victory.
University of Alabama medical officials revealed Saban is experiencing mild symptoms this time and that this result will not be categorized as a false positive like before.
“The Auburn game is obviously a most important game, and we hate it that this situation occurred,” Saban said Wednesday during his appearance on the Southeastern Conference’s weekly teleconference, “but as I’ve said many times before, you’ve got to be able to deal with disruptions this year. Our players have been pretty mature about doing that, and we just want to carry on the best we can.”
Roughly 20 college football head coaches have tested positive for COVID-19 since this most unusual of seasons started, including Dan Mullen of Florida and Sam Pittman of Arkansas within the SEC.