There aren’t many people in the world who can’t wait to get back in the office and work, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is one of them.
After testing positive for COVID-19 and missing the team’s rivalry game against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Saban was itching to get back on the sidelines and do what he loves. During his time away the six-time national champion got to experience things he had never before, and it didn’t feel right to him. While watching the game Saban said he felt “helpless” since he could not be there with his players.
But with the help of IV plasma treatment and a few days of properly quarantining, Saban was cleared to be back coaching against LSU last Saturday and he was glad to be back.
“I was really pleased,” Saban said during his postgame press conference. “It’s funny. It was a really tough adaption to stay home and do everything from home, and then I felt actually sort of out of place going to work. But it didn’t take long. I mean, it was about 15 minutes and I fit right back in. Miss Terry wasn’t on me anymore, and I was able to get on other people in the office.
“It was good, and it was great to be back with the players. I really appreciate the fact that several players were happy to see me back. It was good, it was all good.”
Saban’s reestablished presence as head coach proved dividends for the Crimson Tide as it was able to demolish LSU 55-17 and avenge one of the team’s losses from a year ago.
The win also helped clinch the SEC West which will send Alabama to the SEC Championship game on Dec. 19 to take on Florida.
“Obviously, this team has done a great job all year, won the West, which I’m very proud of them for their efforts all year long to be able to do that,” Saban said. “Now, we’ve gotta talk about how we want to finish the season and continue to improve and get better and learn from some of the things that happened today and hopefully make progress in a very positive way.”
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
