Nick Saban, Greg Byrne have tested positive for COVID-19; Saban issues statement
There have been a ton of COVID-19 cases popping up around the SEC. First, Vanderbilt had to postpone its game at Mizzou this weekend. Then, Florida-LSU got postponed.
Now, it has been revealed that Ole Miss is dealing with an outbreak of the virus as well, and on Wednesday evening, we got some more bad news.
As you can see below, Alabama released a statement saying both head coach Nick Saban and AD Greg Byrne had tested positive for COVID-19:
Big news out of Alabama. Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID. So has athletic director Greg Byrne pic.twitter.com/padDYCH5ut
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 14, 2020
Saban released a statement as well, which you can see below:
Obviously, the health of Saban, Byrne and everyone in the Alabama program is the most important thing. But, now we have to wonder if the Alabama-Georgia game scheduled for Saturday will be postponed.
The virus is spreading throughout the SEC, so we’ll see what happens with the teams impacted most moving forward.
He’s still gonna be calling plays from his house. Hope the best for Saban and his family the guy is up there in years.
This. Is. Not. Good.
It may help Alabama. Win one for the Gipper kind of thing.
Hope everyone recovers quickly and fully.
That said, I fully expect this game will be postponed, one way or another.
Postponement is no good for both teams. Really hope it won’t be.
It would be weird to have Georgia vs. Bama back to back if this week’s game gets postponed.
Postponing the game would make for a weird ending to the season. The game would be rescheduled for the week before the CCG. I wonder if the conference would consider not playing it if the division championships were already determined.
LSUSMC.. I have thought that may be a route the SEC would take as well.. If the divisions are settled who knows..
Hopefully it’s still played this week.
JFC, prayers for the goat, hope it isn’t serious. Awful news.
“JFC” then “prayers”?
Whatever dude.
He’s despicable.
“He’s despicable”
Says the walking bucket of $hit
One would have thought that trudouche would have exited the site after his Vols got spanked yet again. But here you are stirring sh*t up.
What does JFC stand for?
Jesus F#%€ing Christ, a statement some people make when shocked. Don’t use it if you are afraid that others may clutch pearls over it.
Genuinely shocked and that’s what I say when shocked. But hey, I guess I’ll let you be the governor of my sensibilities. Go ahead and tell me what form of reaction is preferred by you and I’ll say something else.
This means he almost certainly got it from Ole Miss who is now seeing a spike.
Which means there’s almost certainly some players with it unless the entire starting 22+ have already had it.
Which means Georgia-Alabama ain’t happening.
Which means Ole Miss ain’t playing.
I declare blame to be placed on Mrs. Mullen’s kissing habits. Do not question my logic.
But…but…Vandy had it first =(
Obsessed with Mrs. Mullen. Somebody got a crush?
You have to admit the kissing thing is…. weird
You may have it reverse. Why would the coach and AD get it from a team that had no positives going into the weekend, and now has only 2?
Hopefully both of them and anyone else they had contact with are able to stay as safe as possible and recover without any complications.. Saban isn’t a spring chicken anymore.
This is getting surreal.
The “I told you so crowd” is going to have a field day.
Exactly what I thought. The B1G and PAC recalcitrants will light this SEC week off like a Roman candle.
I hope Saban will be ok. He seems fairly healthy for his age.
I am really concerned that this game will not be played. We have to find a way to play this game this week. Doing what LSU and Florida did will be a disaster for both teams so close to the SEC title. I really hope we can still play this weekend.
Could you imagine Georgia and Alabama playing two consecutive weeks?
And splitting the two, both make the playoffs, and we go for best of three?
That’s what I’m saying. The SEC Title is December 19th. Florida and LSU postponed their game until December 12th. That’s the off week the SEC will use for postponed games. That is exactly 1 week prior to the SEC title. We would be asked to play Bama on the 12th and then a week later on 19th… That’s a disaster for both teams.
I think there was a situation in the past 20 years or so where two teams played for a conference championship right after they met to finish the season. Maybe the Big 12? Virtually unheard of, otherwise.
Scary proposition for both teams.
It has happened 4 times before but never in a power 5 conference. Memphis and Cincinnati had it happen last year with Memphis winning both to make.the Cotton Bowl.
Now, when they’re saying they tested positive, they mean for the coronavirus, right? Not that they actually have COVID-19?
It means the initial test detected an active SARS-CoV-2 virus in their system, so yes, they would have the coronavirus. They would then have a second test to confirm. False positives have been quite a thing this summer, but those are usually random individuals. This many in a closely-associated group at the same time is virtually iron-clad.
Thank you. It’s getting confusing with everyone saying they’ve tested positive for COVID-19, when in fact they’ve only tested positive for the virus.
As if following this thing wasn’t hard enough.
Did any players get a positive test? Or do they not announce those numbers like UF does?
Haven’t heard yet but I imagine he has been around numerous players and assistant coaches…
I expect there will probably be more to come.. Hopefully this doesn’t blow up.
Yea I hope the best for you guys as well. Hard to imagine others not getting it given how close everyone is in football.
This Sucks! This was my biggest fear, that something would taint this game and it’s outcome. I almost want them to postpone it now.
Prayers for a full recovery.
Tim,
If they postpone this, Bama and UGA will play on December 12th, and then they will play again a week later on December 19th for the SEC Title. I gotta admit, I’m not a huge fan of that.
That’s saying something like this doesn’t happen to say UGA later in the year… If it gets postponed there is nothing saying it will ever be played because more then one game could end up being postponed.
That’s true. It’s clear the SEC’s season is now in jeopardy. Terrible.
Who’s to say if they will play again a week later? Aside from potential future COVID infections, there are other possibilities, as well. Maybe one of the teams doesn’t make it? I know they’re the favorites, and rightfully so, but acting like it’s a foregone conclusion this early in the season is a little strange.
Well I guess Saban’s record against former assistants is no longer in jeopardy
I thought the same thing
Best wishes to them, of course. But it doesn’t look good for the rest of the season. Vandy, Florida, and we don’t know yet how many people at Alabama might have contracted it. It could start spreading through the SEC like wildfire.
Don’t forget Ole Miss
I’m selfish. This was game I waited for all these months. I don’t see how it will be played now. I don’t see a way around it even if they have enough players. Season is unraveling. May not mean anything.
I’m sure they will try to play it if there is anyway to make it happen..
Nooooooooooooo!!!
Prayers and healing go out to Coach and the AD.
This is not good, sure hate to hear this and best wishes Coach Saban…wishing you get better, hopeful remain asymptomatic and recover quickly. The dominoes are tumbling…
Btime….I don’t see how game is played. If Saban is positive then no telling how many players. Schools will probably try to postpone out of caution because even if asymtomatic they are still contagious. Hard to believe no Bama players test positive.
That may be the case that’s why I said if it’s possible I’m sure they will play it. They named an interim coach to step in. It will all be determined by the amount of players if any that test positive.
Oh crap. Hope his symptoms are mild.
2020 can’t end soon enough. So f ed up in many ways. At this point we will never get back to “normal”. Only hope I see is to prolong season and allow make up games to be played and delay Championship game until all games are played. But I don’t see that happening. We need this season as a country but the way it seems now we may never be normal. Depressing.
I really hope for best here. Hard to imagine Saban getting it and no players. Valiant to name Sarkisian but game wouldn’t be the same.
Besides my petty observations……I hope Saban a quick recovery. You know he will get the POTUS treatment. He will be back soon I just know it.
I hope you get better coach. I love the support that he gets better from my “enemies”. The SEC has the best fan base and most caring fan base.
Nothing but the best to Coach Saban and all of the teams and players around the SEC affected by Covid. Before he coaches from Zoom, i hope he makes sure his internet connect is absolutely solid come game time. And I hope theres not much lag time from on field play, to what he see’s and how he can respond. Get well soon Coach.
Hate to hear this and hope they recover. Good news is they have a 99.98% chance of beating it, got to be positive in times like this.
Wow, three days ago this story broke and Saban has already tested negative consecutively enough to coach tonight against GA. Must have a great treatment plan for COVID-19 there.