The news on Wednesday that Alabama coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 landed different this time around. Sure, there was some surprise and plenty of empathy. And certainly, the familiar wave of well wishes that accompany such news was passed on.
But the notion of Saban testing positive and missing the Iron Bowl game against Auburn this weekend didn’t register as a shock. It was greeted with transactional acceptance, like an ankle sprain rearranging the depth chart.
Saban says that he’s feeling fine. A release from Alabama says he has “mild symptoms.