Nick Saban gives his opinion on wearing masks

Nick Saban wants you to wear a mask, and he’s absolutely right

The Alabama Crimson Tide head coach has always been vocal when called upon, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. With college students around the country returning to their respective Universities, the onus is on young people to take the advice of health experts, keeping away from crowded areas when possible and wearing a mask outdoors. However, as we’ve seen in college towns like Chapel Hill and even Tuscaloosa, society has not adapted as quickly as community leaders would’ve hoped.

“I think democracy is great … but a lot of people have asked that we wear masks and keep social distance and I don’t think they are doing that for the heck of it,” Saban said, per Cecil Hurt.

Saban’s statement echoes what players on his own team have said regarding the Tuscaloosa community

On Sunday, Alabama senior Chris Owens tagged a photo of downtown Tuscaloosa, which showed a large crowd with little to no one wearing a mask or social distancing. His caption was not a kind one, and it tells a larger story.

“How about we social distance and have more than a literal handful of people wear a mask? Is that too much to ask Tuscaloosa?”

For those who claim to want a college football season, specifically, none of this is helping. Heck, the Alabama football team has already had a (rather limited) scare, with five players testing positive as asymptomatic.

College football is by no means the most important facets of our lives, but in towns like Tuscaloosa, it has a larger impact that just wins and losses. The more we listen to our health experts, the quicker such a nightmare can be behind us once and for all.