Nick Saban’s Outfit Before Alabama-Georgia Goes Viral (Photos)
Nick Saban’s Outfit Before Alabama-Georgia Goes Viral (Photos)
Nick Saban has been cleared to coach Saturday’s showdown between Alabama and Georgia.
On Wednesday, news broke that the Crimson Tide head coach had tested positive for COVID-19. Immediately, Alabama’s odds of emerging victorious against the Bulldogs plummeted due to the prospect of Saban not being on the sidelines.
Since then, Saban has tested negative for COVID-19 on three separate tests. According to SEC health protocol, three consecutive negative tests indicates that the original test was a false positive.
Prior to Saturday afternoon’s negative test, Saban tested negative on Thursday and Friday of this week.
Fans and media first got a taste that Saban may end up participating in the Georgia game when they realized how he was dressed for his Gameday interview.
As Alabama awaited Nick Saban’s latest test result Saturday morning, the coach was dressed in a suit for his College Gameday interview and presumably ready to leave for the stadium if cleared.
No Alabama players have tested positive, Saban said.https://t.co/4tciH0ehJ2
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 17, 2020
#ICYMI: Coach Nick Saban, on @CollegeGameDay, said he feels “great. I never had any symptoms. Completely asymptomatic.”
FWIW, he’s wearing a suit like he would on a normal game day.
— ™ Iท βα๓a ไ ㅜяบรт ™ (@BamaPride143) October 17, 2020
Nick Saban is in a suit. He knows he’s coaching tonight.
— Speak Up (@_SpeakU) October 17, 2020
Nick Saban, on College GameDay, said he feels “great. I never had any symptoms. Completely asymptomatic.”
FWIW, he’s wearing a suit like he would on a normal game day.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) October 17, 2020
You see Nick Saban live on Gameday from his home.
I see him wearing his Saturday suit meaning he’s waiting for COVID test results like those raptors waited on the cow in Jurassic Park.
— Josh Pate 🎙🏈 (@LateKickJosh) October 17, 2020
Coach still throwin on a suit just to be on Gameday from his HOUSE. That’s a new Nick Saban level of gangsta. pic.twitter.com/1KamP2MZDK
— Ty Pulliam (@ASTheBeardedOne) October 17, 2020
“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,” said Alabama team physician Dr. Jimmy Robinson in a statement.
“Again, that initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC mandated testing. We have been in constant communication with the conference office throughout this process to ensure compliance with all applicable protocols. 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.”
Saban was told he had been cleared to return a little before 12:30 p.m. ET, and he quickly left his home with a state trooper to head straight to the team hotel. He was able to join meetings prior to 1 p.m. ET.
And just like that, the most highly anticipated outing of the weekend will commence as planned.
Alabama vs. Georgia will be air live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET.
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A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
