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Nick Saban addressed COVID-19 tests on College GameDay

By Josh Hill

Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Alabama head coach Nick Saban went on College GameDay to discuss his COVID-19 tests and whether he’d coach on Saturday against Georgia. 

The Tide has certainly changed in Tuscaloosa.

Earlier in the week, it appeared that Alabama would have to play the biggest game of its season without head coach Nick Saban on the sideline. Saban tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, which meant that he wouldn’t be able to take part in the Tide’s Saturday showdown with Georgia.

Things have taken a turn for the better, however, and it now appears as though Saban will indeed be on the sideline at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday night. Saban turned in back-to-back negative COVID tests and a third negative would put him in the clear to rejoin Bama.

Nick Saban tested negative for COVID on Friday

In order to be cleared to coach, Saban would need three negative tests that were each at least 24-hours apart. This most recent test would satisfy that requirement and effectively change the entire competitive tilt between Alabama and Georgia.

Saban joined the College GameDay crew and made a point of mentioning that he is tested every day and Wednesday was the only positive test he had.

“We’ve tested our players every day for the last several months. We’ve had 240 tests in the last two days that were all negative,” Saban told College GameDay, explaining why he felt it would be safe for him to return of his last test returned a negative result. “I actually tested negative Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday popped. Thursday and Friday were negative, so I have the trust in the doctors who make these protocols.”

Saban has run a tight ship in regards to COVID protocols and his players, despite the stories that have been coming out of Tuscaloosa about unchecked partying in and around campus. Only the last three of Saban’s tests matter, but the fact that he and the rest of the team have been COVID-free — outside of the massive Wednesday blip on the radar — is a good sign moving forward.

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