Figuring out what masks to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a bit of a tricky situation for folks, especially those who coach football.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is one of those people whose style of coaching has been altered due to constantly having a mask around his mouth. This has prompted the five-time national champion to evaluate his mask selection in order to find what works best for when he is conversing with his players and staff on the sidelines as well as the practice field.
“This is the kind of mask that I wear, and it is a little difficult to speak with this kind of mask,” said Saban during his Wednesday press conference. “I may do a little research in the next couple days and see if there is something better to do. I think especially when you’re talking to somebody from a distance, it’s natural to want to pull it down so can — not yell at them but yell to them whatever it is the point you’re trying to make. I think it will be a challenge, but I also think it’s important for everybody to respect what we’re trying to do so that we can play safely.”
Back in August Saban spoke about how when he wears the mask he “…can’t seem to get the same emphasis that I’d like sometimes.”
The discussion about proper mask protocol stemmed from the fines handed out to NFL coaches for violating the rules following last weeks games.
Five head coaches were fined roughly $1 millon for not wearing their masks when speaking to their teams during the games. Those head coaches included in the fines were the Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carrol, Denver Broncos’ Vic Fangio, San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Oakland Radiers’ Jon Gruden and New Orlean Saints’ Sean Payton.
Just like the NFL all coaches in the SEC are required to wear either face masks or neck gaiters, which Saban has been wearing recently. The Crimson Tide head coach will have up until Saturday to figure out what his best corse of action is in order to be able to follow the conference’s protocols but also to coach as efficiently as possible.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
