Alabama radio play-by-play announcer Eli Gold announced Thursday evening he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Gold, 66, will miss Saturday’s game at Arkansas, ending what he said was a streak of 409 consecutive football games called for the university. He first started announcing games for Alabama in 1988.
Gold said his wife also tested positive. He hosted the broadcast of Nick Saban’s weekly radio show from home via video conference.
Saban noted during the show that Gold received the same blood plasma treatment that he did. Saban plans on donating his convalescent plasma and urged others to do the same.
Gold told AL.com last month that he underwent two shoulder replacement surgeries this year and continued to announce games through what he called, “debilitating, impossible” pain.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Gold’s broadcasting career has included calling NASCAR races as well as basketball and hockey games.
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.
