It isn’t easy to shock Paul Finebaum.
Yet, the SEC - and COVID-19 - has managed just that.
“It’s been a terrible week,” the ESPN analyst told me on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 Thursday. “We talked many times how everything has gone, but this week the damn broke for the SEC.”
He, of course, is talking about the postponement of LSU-Florida and Vanderbilt-Missouri, and the announcement Alabama coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19.
Finebaum and ESPN “College GameDay” analyst David Pollack said Saban’s absence from the sideline Saturday when No. 2 Alabama hosts No. 3 Georgia looms large.
“Forget the fact he’s the greatest coach in college football history,” Finebaum said. “He’s a hands-on coach. This isn’t Bobby Bowden, theoretically, coaching from a tower the past couple of years. Nick Saban controls every aspect of Alabama football.”
Vegas tends to agree as the point spread for the top-5 matchup moved within minutes of the announcement.
“Saban is not a caretaker,” Pollack said Thursday on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “He’s not just a rah, rah guy that has his hands in everything. Everything runs through Nick. Like everything. I talked to a coach at Alabama. One of the things that was surprising is the coin toss is directed by him. Which way they’re going to kick, warmups. Everything that goes on. Injured players. Everything goes through Nick Saban, so this will definitely be different.
“I think just from a presence standpoint. How many times have we seen Nick chew guys out on the sidelines? Chew coaches out on the sidelines and bring energy and not take certain things and you’re always looking over like. ‘Oh God, dad’s mad at me, I’ve got to make sure I step up my game.’ I think this is huge. There are some coaches that it wouldn’t be as big of a deal. This is an enormous deal for Alabama and the Crimson Tide.”
Win or lose, though, the Nick Saban-vs.-former-assistant-coaches record, which improved to 21-0 last week after defeating Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, will remain unblemished, Finebaum contends.
“He’s not there,” Finebaum said. "I remember 25 years ago, Johnny Majors missed a couple of games because of a heart attack. Phil Fulmer took over. Those were Phil Fulmer’s wins because he was the head coach at the beginning of the game. ... (Alabama offensive coordinator) Steve Sarkisian will be the pitcher of record.
“It’s still a loss (if they lose), but it won’t be in the Saban vs. assistant record.”
Not that Finebaum thinks Alabama will lose. While he admits anyone who tries to predict this game “is crazy,” he “likes" Alabama.
“I do think this will have an impact,” Finebaum said. “In some ways, the coach is less important than the starting quarterback.”
No. 3 Georgia travels to No. 2 Alabama on Saturday for a 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET) kickoff on CBS. The game will be live streamed on CBS All Access, which offers a 7-day free trial.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
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