Less than a week after their positive COVID-19 tests was announced, Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone flew to Dallas to continue preparations for the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Both had been working remotely from Tuscaloosa after the team flew to Texas on Sunday.
“I got in this morning after talking with our trainer, Jeff Allen, after changes to the SEC protocols,” O’Brien said Tuesday evening. An Alabama spokesperson later confirmed Marrone also made the trip to Dallas.
The SEC has not announced any changes to its COVID-19 guidelines but responded via email to AL.com request for clarification.
“Our Medical Task Force was preparing updated policies prior to yesterday’s CDC announcement of reduced isolation times,” read the response from an SEC spokesperson. “We have followed CDC guidance throughout the pandemic and SEC policies have been adjusted consistent with the CDC. The SEC Medical Task Force continues to work with the Conference office and membership to refine policies to support healthy competition.”
The CDC on Monday updated its recommended for isolation periods for those asymptomatic to five days followed by five days of mask-wearing around others. Transmission is more likely early in the course of the illness, was the explanation from the CDC.
Positive tests for O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone were revealed last Wednesday in a news release distributed by UA Athletics.
O’Brien worked with the team over Zoom while he was in isolation, an adjustment he said wasn’t a huge challenge since he had to do a lot of that last year in the NFL when he coached the Texans.
“The biggest thing was that Coach Saban made everything normal,” O’Brien said. “It was like I was actually there. I was in every meeting.”
O’Brien credited the video department, coaches like Holmon Wiggins, analyst Alex Mortensen by name along with former assistant Joe Pendry who stepped in to help the offensive line with Marrone out.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was happy to see O’Brien back on the practice field Tuesday. It added a degree of difficulty not having the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on the field with him in practice.
“That was rough. That was really rough,” Young said. “Not having him in person for an extended period of time, not having him on the field for a few practices, that was tough. For someone like OB who is obviously such a great mind and gives us in the quarterback room so much intel.”
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
