Nick Saban tests positive for COVID-19, will miss Iron Bowl
Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Saturday’s Iron Bowl against Auburn. During an appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday morning, the Alabama head coach confirmed that he had a positive PCR test.
“I don’t really have any cardinal signs of the virus,” Saban said on the call. “I don’t have a fever, no loss of taste or smell, no fatigue, no muscle ache.”
According to a release from the university, Saban is “mildly symptomatic.” The head coach later revealed those symptoms to be “a bit of a runny nose” but stated “I don't really have anything significant.”
Saban tested positive for the virus on Oct. 14, before Alabama’s game against Georgia. However, that test was later determined to be a false positive, allowing him to coach against the Bulldogs. That will not be the case for this week’s game against Auburn.
During the teleconference, Saban announced that Steve Sarkisian will take on head-coaching duties in his absence. The offense coordinator will also still be in charge of calling plays for the offense.
Saban said the team has not made a decision on whether or not the team will promote one of its off-the-field analysts to an on-field role in his absence. Defensive analyst Mike Stoops filled in for safeties coach Charles Kelly during Alabama’s season opener against Missouri in September.
As for Alabama’s day-to-day operations leading up to the game, Saban is confident in his ability to oversee his team from afar.
“I’m still going to do everything possible relative to our team for Saturday’s game with Auburn,” Saban said. “Participate in meetings, watch practice and all that from home in isolation like I did before. Sark will kind of oversee things in the building in my absence.
“The last time I did this for three days, I absolutely did everything from home that I did at the office. I just did it on Zoom.”
According to Saban, he is the only person in the program to test positive for the virus. Alabama will undergo contact tracing to determine if any other coaches or players will need to be held out of Saturday’s game.
“We really practice social tracing, social distancing, all the things that we need to do to be safe,” Saban said. “I mean, we’re always six feet apart in meetings. We have staff meetings in large rooms. Everyone is required and we all wear masks. Players all wear masks in meetings… Based on how we manage things internally in the building, I cant’ see any issues with coaches and players.”
No. 1 Alabama will host No. 22 Auburn on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
