Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban will miss the Iron Bowl after testing positive for COVID-19.
Alabama will be without its head coach on Saturday for the Iron Bowl,
It was announced that Nick Saban has tested positive once again for COVID-19 and will have to sit out coaching when Auburn meets Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
It is the second time that Saban has tested positive for the coronavirus, the first coming back in October. He was able to get three straight negative tests and return to the sidelines against Georgia that week.
The Twitter world reacts to Alabama football head coach contracting COVID-19 just days before game against Georgia football.
On Wednesday afternoon, Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, as well as Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne tested positive for COVID-19, reported by ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
No statements have been released on the status of Saturday night’s game between No. 3 Georgia and No. 2 Alabama. Kickoff is still scheduled for 8:00 P.M. ET and is expected to go on as long as more positive tests don’t come back these next couple of days.
Her is how the college football Twitter world reacted to the breaking news:
Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19.
No. 2 Alabama plays No. 3 Georgia Saturday night. https://t.co/E8YzZpYRvl
— ESPN (@espn) October 14, 2020
Nick Saban tests positive for covid. Sark will now coach the Georgia game for Bama. Saban says he has no symptoms. https://t.co/xXA6mkZuA3
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 14, 2020
Good morning to everyone except the person who gave Nick Saban COVID
— KD ➐ (@notkdk3) October 15, 2020
WOW NICK SABAN RIGHT NOW AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID pic.twitter.com/qb0e8EzWOe
— Austin Smiley (@Austin__Smiley) October 14, 2020
I think I may actually cry about nick saban having covid
— Catie Wallace (@catiewallace_) October 14, 2020
Nothing unless more people test positive for Rona – go Dawgs
— JD1962 (@DavisJd1962) October 14, 2020
— Beat Bama (3-0) #GoDawgs (@1DawgGA) October 15, 2020
Alabama HC Nick Saban tests positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/8jki3xsDjX
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) October 14, 2020
This is a stunning reminder of how contagious this virus is and that we can never let our guard down -Louise and I join all Alabamians in puling for Coach Saban's speedy recovery as we all do for our neighbors and friends who have contracted this disease. https://t.co/Fh9X9YjdD7
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) October 15, 2020
Heard it suggested they could move Bama-Georgia as Saban deals with Covid. The SEC’s cancellation/rescheduling policy doesn’t specifically address coaches. That said, there is an opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Sankey.
(Not suggesting UA would do that but it could) pic.twitter.com/N9GpzHprNg
— Alex Scarborough (@AlexS_ESPN) October 15, 2020
Prayers up for Nick Saban and Greg Byrne. ♥️🐘 Get well soon, y’all.
— Isaiah D. Buggs (@BigPooh_91) October 14, 2020
BREAKING: Alabama head coach Nick Saban tests positive for COVID-19, what that means for Georgia football.
Breaking news has come out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, as well as Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne have tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
Breaking: Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19, team sources tell Tom Rinaldi. pic.twitter.com/VpkI9QuYLJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2020
This is a major shakeup for the college football world as Georgia was scheduled to play the Crimson Tide this Saturday in a heavyweight showdown.
Reports say that both Saban and Byrne left the facility immediately and are now quarantining in their homes. Saban announced that offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will act as head coach while Saban works from home.
“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,” Saban released in his statement today. “I informed our team of my positive test at 2 p.m. today on a Zoom call and let them know offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will oversee preparations at the complex while I work from home.”
There have been positive player tests at Ole Miss, who Alabama beat last week, and the SEC has already bumped two games this week due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The Missouri vs Vanderbilt game and the Florida vs LSU game will both be played the week of December 12 due to positive tests at Florida and Vanderbilt. Nineteen players tested positive for Florida.
No statements have been released on the status of Saturday night’s game between Georgia and Alabama.
Alabama faces Georgia in a top-5 matchup on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama might be without its head coach for the biggest SEC matchup of the season.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Nick Saban had tested positive for COVID-19 and had left the team’s facility immediately upon the result.
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne have tested positive for COVID-19, per UA. Saban directed @alaftbl practice from home today.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) October 14, 2020
The No. 2 Crimson Tide face No. 3 Georgia this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Along with Saban, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has also tested positive for the virus.
This news comes on the heels of the Florida-LSU matchup in Gainesville being postponed earlier today along with Vanderbilt-Missouri being postponed earlier this week.
UPDATE: A statement from the University of Alabama
