Alabama coordinator exits COVID-19 protocols, joins team in Dallas

Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien joined the team in Dallas ahead of the Crimson Tide’s Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal game against Cincinnati on Friday. According to O’Brien, he took part virtually in every meeting while isolated and things went normal.

The first year Alabama assistant arrived Tuesday morning after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. He has already spoken with Associate Athlete Director of Sports Medicine Jeff Allen about the updated SEC protocols.

Preparing for their Cotton Bowl matchup against Cincinnati, Alabama spent time without Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone. Both tested positive for COVID-19 and entered protocols before the team travelled to Dallas this week. From the time of the positive tests, head coach Nick Saban expressed optimism that both assistants would return in time for the Cotton Bowl and a potential National Championship chance the following week.

The winner of the Cotton Bowl between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Cincinnati will play the winner of No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 Georgia in the national championship on Jan. 10.

More on positive tests

Just nine days away from the Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati, Bill O’Brien and Doug Marrone tested positive for COVID-19, but Nick Saban expected them to coach in the game.

“We received notification that offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone tested positive for COVID-19,” head coach Nick Saban and athletic trainer Jeff Allen said in a joint statement. “They have very mild symptoms and are home isolating while following appropriate guidelines. We anticipate both being able to coach in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.”

O’Brien has taken over the Alabama offense from Steve Sarkisian, who left for the Texas job after winning the 2020 national championship. He has excelled with Bryce Young, with a Heisman Trophy now to the quarterback’s name. The Crimson Tide is averaging 42.5 points per game, good enough for fourth in the country.

As for Marrone, he is fresh off an NFL head coaching job with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is back coaching the SEC as a position coach once again. He has turned what was a weakness at one point for Alabama early in the season and now made it a strong suit heading into the College Football Playoff. With projected first round pick Evan Neal anchoring the left side, the emergence of Javion Cohen and Seth McLaughlin also helped provide more time for Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young.