Alabama’s Nick Saban Cleared For Georgia Game

Alabama Coach Nick Saban has been cleared for tonight’s game against Georgia after receiving a third negative test for COVID.

According to ESPN:

“Due to the fact that Coach Saban has remained completely symptom-free and had five negative PCR tests, split between two separate labs, the initial test from Wednesday is considered a false positive under the SEC protocols,” 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 effective immediately.”

On Saturday morning, it was announced on ESPN’s College GameDay that Saban had received his second negative COVID-19 test.

Nick Saban’s second covid test is negative too. He will get his third covid test this afternoon. Looks like Saban will be on the sideline tonight and his test was a false positive. Coronabros right now reading this Tweet on their phones. pic.twitter.com/fJyn5Jf6Oq

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 17, 2020

This news might come as a shock to the coronabro crowd, who thought the man in charge of the Alabama football program would be unavailable. What a headline on Wednesday when the news was announced that Saban had tested positive for the virus.

People ran with it. How can we continue with college football when its biggest name had contracted COVID? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every other sport has powered through outbreaks. They’ve acknowledged that positive cases are going to happen, but there’s nothing that points to needing to cancel the season.

Not everyone is excited about it either. ESPN’s Heather Dinich made sure to point to the difference between the SEC’s protocols and other conferences.

The ACC and Big 12 do not have the same COVID-19 policy as the SEC. In the SEC, 3 straight negative PCR tests, each 24 hours apart, can allow an asymptomatic person w/o a fever to return. Not the case in ACC and Big 12. This wasn't an option for @Coach_Norvell v. Miami

— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) October 17, 2020

It’s three different negative tests compared to one positive test. Saban and the rest of the Alabama program have followed protocols and taken precautions. At this point, it’s looking more likely that the original positive test was a false positive.

It would be ridiculous for the most important coach in college football to miss his team’s most important game of the season after testing negative three consecutive times following one positive test.

Vegas seems to think Saban will be back. The line has gone from 3.5 back to 5.5.

It looks like the man is coaching. It’s good for him, and it’s certainly good for college football to have him on the sidelines.

Following Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.