Alabama football coach Nick Saban, per SEC procedure, has actually been cleared to return to the sideline for Saturday nights showdown against No. 3 Georgia following his third consecutive unfavorable test for COVID-19, the school revealed.
Sources informed ESPN that Saban was notified he had actually been cleared to return a little before 12:30 p.m. ET, and he instantly left his home with a state trooper to go directly to the team hotel and had the ability to sign up with meetings prior to 1 p.m. ET.
Alabama group physician Dr. Jimmy Robinson said in a statement that Saban had negative polymerase domino effect (PCR) tests at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday following a preliminary favorable test Wednesday. The school included 2 extra PCR tests, from Thursday and Friday, were taken “out of an abundance of caution” and also were discovered to be unfavorable at a different lab.
” Due to the truth that Coach Saban has actually stayed totally symptom-free and had 5 negative PCR tests, split between two different labs, the preliminary test from Wednesday is considered a false positive under the SEC procedures,” Robinson said. “… In accordance with the SEC Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force Protocol and with the approval of The University of Alabama System Health and Safety Task Force, Coach Saban is medically cleared to safely return to activity efficient instantly.”
2 RelatedSaturday mornings test was flown to an SEC-approved laboratory in Mobile, Alabama, for a fast turn-around.
Robinson said in his declaration that university officials had actually been in constant communication with the conference office throughout the process to ensure compliance with all relevant protocols.
Alabama revealed Wednesday that Saban, who turns 69 later this month, evaluated favorable for COVID-19. He instantly left the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility and started self-isolating at home.
SEC guidelines mention that if an individual has three successive negative PCR tests through an SEC-appointed lab, each 24 hours apart, and stays asymptomatic, the initial test would be considered an incorrect positive and the individual might be released from isolation and clinically cleared to return to sports activities.
On Friday, Alabama said Sabans preliminary favorable test result came from an outside laboratory that the university has used to supplement the SEC-mandated testing.
A source close to Saban told ESPN that he felt from the start that the initial test was an incorrect positive because he never had any symptoms or experienced a fever.
” He didnt even have a sniffle,” the source said.
Saban wasnt at the football complex for the 2nd half of the week, but he carried out team and personnel conferences through Zoom and watched the practices on a live feed from home– with a high-angled electronic camera view– and interacted with coaches by mobile phone if he wanted some part of practice redone.
One staffer told ESPN that Saban may not have been there physically, however that he was certainly there in spirit and didnt miss out on anything from home.
” You didnt see him out there, but its nearly like he never ever left,” the staffer stated.
Saban appeared on ESPNs College GameDay on Saturday morning from his home and acknowledged he felt a “bit detached” today, however that he remained involved practically with the group and personnel in whatever theyve done in both meetings and practices.
” Even though Im not there, the presence has actually been the same,” Saban stated.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, who also checked favorable for COVID-19 on Wednesday, on Saturday published on Twitter that he he is “feeling pretty great,” but that he is still at home following procedure and will not go to the game vs. the Bulldogs.
At home following procedure (while watching of course), so Ill miss out on being at the video game tonight. #RollTide– Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) October 17, 2020
Sources told ESPN that Alabama has had no positive tests among its gamers in this newest round of screening and expects to be complete strength for the Bulldogs check out to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Saban told GameDay that Alabama carried out 240 tests in the previous two days and all were unfavorable. Saban said he tested negative Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the positive test on Wednesday.
” I have to trust in the medical professionals and medical people that make these protocols safe for all of us,” Saban said. “Our gamers have done a great task of practicing social distancing, and this experience has made me have a great deal of respect for what we ought to do. … And were going to continue to do that in the future.”
Thanks for all the prayers & & well-wishes the last few days! Feeling pretty excellent.
At home following protocol (while viewing of course), so Ill miss out on being at the game tonight. #RollTide– Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) October 17, 2020
” I have to rely on in the medical professionals and medical individuals that make these protocols safe for all of us,” Saban stated. “Our gamers have actually done a great job of practicing social distancing, and this experience has actually made me have a lot of respect for what we ought to do. … And were going to continue to do that in the future.”
