All signs pointing to Nick Saban coaching Alabama vs. Georgia with one more negative test
By John Buhler
Nick Saban is one step closer to return to the Alabama football sidelines
Nick Saban may be able to coach Alabama vs. Georgia on Saturday night after all.
After testing positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach went into quarantine as soon as he found out about his positive test on Wednesday afternoon. He remains asymptomatic, which is great for him personally, as well as his chances to return to the sidelines on Saturday night, just in time for Alabama’s huge SEC game vs. the Georgia Bulldogs.
“Coach Saban was evaluated again today by Dr. Robinson,” said Alabama head athletic trainer Jeff Allen. “He continues to be asymptomatic and without fever. We are continuing to follow the SEC Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force Protocol for testing asymptomatic positives. A PCR test was repeated Thursday by the SEC appointed lab and was negative.”
“For clarification, the initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC mandated testing. He will continue to remain in isolation and receive daily PCR tests. Should he have three negative PCR tests through the SEC appointed lab, each 24 hours apart, the initial test would be considered a false positive pursuant to SEC protocols and he would be allowed to return.”
All Nick Saban needs one more more negative PCR test to return to the sidelines.
The big key here is Saban has remained asymptomatic throughout the entire process. If he were to show any symptoms of COVID-19, he would not be allowed to coach in this high-profile SEC game. If that were the case, then offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian would assume the role of interim head coach. Sarkisian has been a Power 5 head coach before, so he’d do just fine we think.
Because the results are from the test from the day prior, Saban would have to come back negative on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning’s PCR tests after initially testing positive on Tuesday’s. Though Alabama remains the favorite to win this game, not having Saban certainly makes things even more interesting when the Tide take on the Kirby Smart‘s Dawgs in primetime.
To date, no former Saban assistant has ever beaten him. Smart is one of a handful who lead Power 5 programs today. Even though it’s the middle of October, this game between Alabama and Georgia feels like a precursor to the 2020 SEC Championship game that will be played in Atlanta in December. If both get to Atlanta with one or fewer losses, it’ll be a de facto playoff seeding game.
We will know Saturday morning if Saban is allowed to coach on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny.
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