Alabama coach Nick Saban cleared to be on sideline for Georgia game
A masked Alabama coach Nick Saban speaks with defensive back Josh Jobe (28) during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. Alabama won 63-48. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nick Saban will be back on the sideline against Georgia after all.The Southeastern Conference cleared Saban on Saturday to coach in the game after he tested negative for COVID-19 the past three days.
The move came hours ahead of Saturday night’s game between the second-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 3 Bulldogs.
Saban had initially tested positive on Wednesday, along with athletic director Greg Byrne.
Team physician Jimmy Robinson said Saban was tested the next three mornings, and the initial result was deemed a false positive.
"Those three negative tests satisfied the SEC protocol for a false positive," Robinson said. "Out of an abundance of caution, two additional PCR tests were administered at the same time on Thursday and Friday and were tested by a separate lab. Those tests were also negative."
The initial positive came from an outside lab Alabama had used to supplement the testing mandated by the SEC.
