What’s next with Harsin infected?
Auburn coach to be in isolation for at least 10 days
AUBURN – The final two weeks of preseason preparation for Bryan Harsin’s first game as the Auburn football coach will be spent mostly without Bryan Harsin present.
And it felt somewhat predictable that this would be the case at some point. Harsin tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, a month after he declined to say whether he had been vaccinated and estimated the team’s vaccination rate was around 60% at SEC Media Days.
The league’s recommended vaccination threshold is 85%.
Some coaches were outspoken at SEC Media Days, encouraging people to get vaccinated. Harsin was not one of them. Auburn’s low team rate has cast a shadow of dread over preseason proceedings because the consequence of a large enough potential team breakout could result in the forfeiture of games. Harsin’s positive test serves as a reminder of that.
Auburn’s official COVID protocol requires Harsin to stay in isolation for 10 days, a team spokesperson told the Montgomery Advertiser. That’s in line with the NCAA’S guidelines, which also recommend being without fever or symptoms for at least 24 hours before leaving quarantine.
Even though Harsin tested positive Thursday, Friday was Day 1 of those 10 days, the team spokesperson told the Advertiser.
That means if his recovery goes smoothly, he can rejoin the team as soon as Aug. 30, in time for Auburn’s season opener against Akron on Sept. 4.
In the meantime, Harsin will only be with his players and staff virtually, while linebackers coach Jeff Schmedding assumes in-person head coaching duties. Auburn, who fell just outside the preseason Coaches Poll, is fortunate the positive test didn’t come a few days later – talk about an awkward situation for the first game of the Harsin era – but the coach’s absence is still a substantial hiccup in the preparation process.
Especially considering Harsin’s usual involvement at practice and his importance to Auburn’s offensive scheme. He’s a hands-on coach who has brought tangible energy to Auburn’s practice environment. When his boots aren’t on the ground, his value as a motivator will be missing. Players will miss that while trying to get amped up for their first game.
As for the offense: It’s still new. Players and coaches have been optimistic about their progress learning Harsin’s pro-style system, but there has still been a collective recognition that they need every day they can get. After the team’s first preseason scrimmage last Saturday, Harsin said the defense had the upper hand. The offensive line was “solid” but “a little inconsistent.” Bo Nix and the other quarterbacks have improved but still needed work.
Now it will be 10 crucial days without the physical teaching presence of Harsin, a former Boise State quarterback and one of the orchestrators of the offense everyone is learning. The good news for Auburn is that Harsin can still be involved in meetings and film study, but offensive coordinator Mike Bobo shoulders a bit more responsibility now for how the on-field execution progresses.
Those are light consequences compared to an in-season positive test for Harsin. But they’re still consequences his team will have to adapt to now.
“Just like in a game, teams that handle adversity and make necessary adjustments are those that are most successful,” Harsin said in his statement Friday night. “I have full confidence in our coaching staff and team. I know they will continue to prepare with the same intensity and focus that they have since camp started.”
If there’s one clear characteristic about Harsin, it’s that he’s able to skillfully turn any circumstance into a positive coaching moment.
If he wants Auburn playing all 12 games on its schedule at full strength, he might want to consider turning his positive test into one of those coaching moments, too.