TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Jeff Allen glances down nervously at his Apple Watch after seeing that a new message has just popped in.
It's 9:45 a.m. on Sept. 17, still more than a week away from Alabama's season opener, and the Crimson Tide's veteran head athletic trainer looks up after reading the message and slowly exhales.
"Just got the word that all [COVID-19] tests were negative. Thank God!" Allen says from underneath his mask. "I know it's coming, this time every day. That anxiety is daily because you know if you've got a couple of positives where that leads.