Tuscaloosa mayor echoes Alabama AD’s call to wear masks in public: ‘We are trying to have a college football season’

After Tuscaloosa residents received widespread attention in print media and social media for packed crowds at area bars with low mask usage, Mayor Walt Maddox has responded by echoing Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne’s call for them to practice social distancing and wear masks in public.

Alabama offensive lineman Chris Owens and Nick Saban’s daughter Kristen Saban Setas were among the people who joined Byrne in calling out the packed crowds at Tuscaloosa bars.

Maddox took to social media to address Tuscaloosa residents and share what actions are being taken.

“Why? We are desperately trying to protect Tuscaloosa. We are trying to have a college football season,” Maddox wrote quote-tweeting Byrne. “We have been running details for 3 straight nights. Tuscaloosa PD is stretched thin between COVID-19 and these details. We will be requesting daytime help from UAPD.”

Maddox joins many other elected officials around the country who have cited the uncertain status of the college as a reason to take COVID-19 precautions such as social distancing and wearing a mask in public. We’ll see how Alabama students and other Tuscaloosa residents respond.

Why? We are desperately trying to protect @tuscaloosacity – We are trying to have college football season. We have been running details for 3 straight nights. @TuscaloosaPD is stretched thin between COVID-19 and these details. We will be requesting daytime help from #UAPD. https://t.co/ZHCR2XAk8F

— Walt Maddox (@WaltMaddox) August 16, 2020

.@TuscaloosaPD and @T_Town_Fire are coming in early and will be actively enforcing. It’s a damn shame that our officers who are stretched thin across the City and who are working to exhaustion can’t have a few hours of down time.

— Walt Maddox (@WaltMaddox) August 17, 2020

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.