ESPN College GameDay analyst predicts Nick Saban will be 'on the field coaching tomorrow' against Georgia
Could Nick Saban make a return in time for Saturday’s game against Georgia?
The odds appear stacked against the Crimson Tide coach after he tested positive for COVID-19 twice this week but we can’t totally rule out the possibility as three negative tests would result in Saban being allowed to return to the field.
Now, we’ve not heard of Saban having a single positive or negative test since his two positive tests on Wednesday but a recent tweet from ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard suggests he has some information on this subject:
“I believe Nick Saban will be on the field coaching tomorrow. Enjoy your Friday,” Howard tweeted out Friday morning.
Howard did not provide any additional information other than these comments. It’s unclear whether Howard has any knowledge of Saban’s status or if he’s simply guessing here.
Either way, there’s at least some optimism that Saban could be on the field come Saturday night when the Bulldogs make their way to Tuscaloosa.
Athletes have to quarantine for at least 10 days after the most recent positive test. Does the same not apply to personnel? I can’t possibly see him being on the sidelines this weekend.
That was my thought as well. I hope he’s healthy but I can’t see them letting him coach on the sidelines this early.
He has to have three negative tests in order to be cleared. That would indicate that the Wednesday tests were false positives. Doubtful, but possible.
I don’t believe that’s true.. He tested positive in his second test. When you read the rule it appears the second test would have needed to be negative for him to fall under this rule..
The Athletes have to re-acclimate after being sick. Their role is way more physical than the coaches.
Weagle.. This is what I posted on another article. I honestly believe people are mixing up two different policies or guidelines..
I could be wrong but from my understanding people are confusing two different policies. The 3 negative tests are part of determining the first test was a false negative..
For example. Saban tests positive, he is then retested and test negative. Now he would fall under the rule everyone is citing about 3 negative tests… After testing negative for the second test he can test two more times and if negative the first test is considered a false positive and he can come out of isolation….
All that is great and I would love for him to be calling the game but they have already confirmed he tested positive on the second test so this doesn’t apply to him…
Atleast that’s how I understand i
If he gets 3 negative test results he can be in field. That would mean it wa a false positive
On*
Maybe not on the field, but he can definitely be in the press box by himself with a headset. Don’t see why that would be an issue.
No he can’t
People have sure came up with some crazy takes on this..
I recall that Penn State’s Joe Paterno coached from a luxury box in the stadium. He had a leg problem and could not stand for hours on the sideline. *But COVID is a different animal and the protocols determine what actually can happen. My thinking is he will not be on the sideline
Saturday vs. the Dawgs.
Yeah that’s not happening
‘Cuz we all know Desmond Howard is always on the money. Aside from some laughable clown predictions in past years, he started this CFB season with Cincinnati in the playoffs and Chuba Hubbard taking home the Heisman. Given the chance a few weeks later to change his playoff picks after the B1G announced they’d play, he dropped Cincinnati and added Oklahoma State.
He hates to be just one of the crowd and loves to throw out a contrarian view to set himself apart. He’ll eventually hit an outrageous pick, but probably not on this.
Several forces at work here: 1) false positives and negatives can occur in both the nasal/throat swabs and in the blood antibody tests
2) there has to be a protocol followed for responses to tests both positive and negative and Saban is the most important follower of such a protocol
3) the results have to be widely examined because they will be questioned by every sports interested party in the world
4) judgement about the result has to be based on what is available to all coaches not what is available to Saban….. and this list may not be complete but you get the idea. It’s not just about Saban, Alabama, Georgia, the SEC…. it about high profile lives, events, etc. . Here where i want to laugh and attach part of the movie “Rango” where the Spirit of the West appears to Rango in the desert and reads him the riot act. “It’s not about you son, It’s about them”.
Saban is under the same protocol that everyone in the conference would have to adhere to…