The University of Alabama has apparently made the decision that fans will not be required to submit proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test to enter.
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban recently announced that his program is one player short of 100% vaccinated. Now Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has take to Twitter to announce to the public that across all programs the Tide is over 90% vaccinated to begin the 2021-22 year.
After a wild week in college football where we saw smoke become fire, the Southeastern Conference officially issued a welcome to Oklahoma and Texas as new members. The leaders of the University of Alabama issued their own welcomes to the two schools into the conference.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to industries across the country. In particular, college athletic programs have suffered due to extra expenses in relation to testing and protecting its athletes, coaches and staff members. To help mitigate the losses that member athletic institutions have suffered this year the SEC has announced a $23 million distribution in supplemental revenue.
Byrne has been the Alabama athletic director since 2017 and in such time has extended contracts on Nick Saban, fired Avery Johnson and hired Nate Oats and hired Brad Bohannon. The football team has won two national championships while he has been in charge, the basketball team is in the midst of its deepest run in 17 years and the state of all the programs on campus is generally on the rise.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne commented on the story insinuating that the athletic department is planning on returning to a full capacity Bryant-Denny Stadium for the 2021 season. This past year the stadium was reduced to 20% capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement from the University of Alabama Athletic Department both Nick Saban and Greg Byrne have tested positive for COVID-19. Both Saban and Byrne have entered isolation and are away from the facilities.
Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne joined Ryan Fowler on The Game to discuss this weekend's first home game, how Alabama is protecting its athletes during the pandemic, scheduling future games, budgeting and the Coleman Coliseum renovation plans.
There was no football practice Monday for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Instead, its players and coaches participated in a march protesting the social injustices that have ignited outrage again throughout the country. From Breonna Taylor, to George Floyd to Jacob Blake, we have all seen and heard about the instances of violence at the hands of police that have sparked social unrest in the country.