A Mizzou football coach will be missing because of COVID Saturday against Alabama
Missouri Tigers secondary coach Charlie Harbison was unavailable for Saturday’s season opener because of COVID-19, an MU spokesperson confirmed to The Star.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel was the first to report Harbison’s absence. Mizzou’s opponnent, No. 2 Alabama, will be missing safeties coach Charles Kelly, Thamel reported.
Harbison, 61, will miss Saturday’s game and the ensuing Tennessee game Oct. 3. He will be replaced by defensive quality control analyst Grant O’Brien for both games.
The Tigers are missing a minimum of seven players because of COVID-19, MU coach Eliah Drinkwitz said Tuesday.
Harbison joined Mizzou’s staff as a secondary coach when Drinkwitz was hired in December. Harbison coached with Drinkwitz at Appalachian State, helping the Mountaineers to the Sun Belt title. Harbison also has experience coaching in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Tigers were to take on Alabama in Drinkwitz’s debut as big underdogs at 6 p.m. Saturday at Faurot FIeld.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 3:05 PM.