Alabama’s Saban tests positive
Coach Nick Saban of No. 1 Alabama tested positive for the coronavirus just days before the Iron Bowl with No. 22 Auburn.
Team physician Dr. Jimmy Robinson and head trainer Jeff Allen said in a joint statement that the positive test came Wednesday morning.
“He has very mild symptoms, so this test will not be categorized as a potential false positive,” the statement said. “He will follow all appropriate guidelines and isolate at home.”
The Crimson Tide is set to face its biggest rival Saturday at Bryant- Denny Stadium without the 69- yearold, six- time national champion coach. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, a former head coach at USC and Washington, will oversee preparations and oversee the team on game day.
Saban said he has had a runny nose but no major symptoms.
The day after Minnesota canceled its game against Wisconsin because of a rise of coronavirus infections within the program, star wide receiver Rashod Bateman announced that he was ending his season early out of concern for his health and with an eye toward his NFL career. He is widely projected as f irst- round draft pick. ... Oklahoma’s game against West Virginia was postponed from Saturday to Dec. 12 after the Sooners paused organized team activities because of recent positive COVID- 19 tests and contact tracing.
Women’s soccer player Sarah Fuller practiced with the Vanderbilt football team, and coach Derek Mason said she’s a good option to be the Commodores kicker Saturday against Missouri.
Mason said his Commodores ( 0- 7) are having health issues with their specialists. Vanderbilt has declined to comment on any players who’ve either tested positive for COVID- 19 or are in quarantine. Junior Pierson Cooke is three for seven on field- goal attempts.
Texas State defensive back Khambrail Winters was fatally shot in San Marcos, Texas, and two men were arrested and charged in the killing, officials said.
Indianapolis, which was scheduled to host NBA All-Star weekend this upcoming season, will instead host the NBA All- Star weekend in 2024, the league said.
Cleveland will play host in 2022 and Salt Lake City will do so in 2023, both of those sites and years previously announced.
The league said “public health conditions prevented the Pacers, the NBA All- Star Host Committee and the NBA from appropriately planning and executing fan- focused All- Star activities in Indianapolis that were envisioned for this February.”
The league said it was planning to revise this season’s All- Star agenda, with those plans still to be announced. Liam Clark, the younger brother of former UCLA gymnast Mercedez Sanchez who inspired the team’s childhood cancer awareness meet last season, died Monday after a f ight with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 2 years old.
The Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning resigned defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to a three- year, $ 14.4- million contract.