The University of Alabama is locked into having football.
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, coaches, student-athletes, team staff and everyone in the athletics department has practiced social distancing and the use of masks and face shields.
After his first presser of fall camp on Monday, Nick Saban addressed the local media via Zoom call to talk about how the Crimson Tide has stayed ahead of the testing curve.
It had a rise in positive tests — upon players coming back to campus on June 8 for voluntary workouts — however, the numbers have dramatically decreased since then.
While other programs are just now starting to seriously test its student-athletes, Alabama has been at the forefront all summer.
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“We test our players at the beginning on Sunday,” Saban said. “We’ve done this since the 4th of July, so that they know that the players they are working out with are healthy and safe. Then, we do it later in the week. Our players are use to being tested twice a week, which is what most people are just starting now, but we have been doing it all along.”
Coach Saban wanted each player to know the athlete around it is safe, so there is nothing to fear.
In team meetings, everyone is spaced out with masks on. Saban has no fear of the Coronavirus, due to the medical care and protocol at Alabama, and he practices social distancing away from the program. Although his personal bubble contains his wife, Mrs. Terry and their immediately family, Saban also makes time for his mother during this unprecedented period.
“When I go see my mother, who is 88 years old, we sit 10 feet apart on a park bench,” he said. “We talk for 45 minutes to an hour and I say ‘Mom, I’m not giving you a hug today because I love you.’ So, there is a lot of changes that we all have to make in our lifestyle to try to stay safe and we certainly have respected those things.”
Saban and the Tide will practice again on Tuesday at 3:40 p.m. and will have Wednesday off to rest.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
