GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida football coach Dan Mullen tweeted Saturday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mullen is the second Southeastern Conference football coach to announce a positive test this week. Alabama’s Nick Saban announced Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19, although Alabama doctors now believe the Crimson Tide coach had a false positive test.
“I have also tested positive for COVID and have received word that my test has been confirmed,” Mullen tweeted. “I’m continuing to self-isolate from my family, who all remain healthy, and am following all the guidelines set forth by UF Health, the CDC and our public health officials.”
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) October 17, 2020
On Tuesday, the University of Florida, citing “an abundance of caution” because of an increase in positive coronavirus cases, paused its football practice.
Florida’s football team had 21 positive cases after players returned to campus in late May, according to ESPN. The school announced earlier this week that 23 players and two staff members on the Gators football team tested positive, WCJB reported.
The outbreak of new positive tests caused the Gators to postpone Saturday’s game against LSU until Dec. 12. The Gators’ Oct 24 game against Missouri was also rescheduled and will be played on Oct 31.
Saban, 68, was retested Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each of his follow-up tests yielded negative results, Alabama team physician Dr. Jimmy Robinson said Saturday.
Robinson also said that Saban’s results were sent to two different labs and suggested Saban’s Wednesday results reflected a false positive.
The SEC said later that Saban would be able to coach from the sideline for the Crimson Tide’s game against the University of Georgia on Saturday night.
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Cox Media Group
