BREAKING NEWS: Nick Saban controversial Alabama football exclusion with commitment of five-star
Alabama football isn’t usually seen as an “underdog,” given its 18 claimed national titles and 46 Bowl wins. However, former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban often sought ways to adopt an underdog mentality.
Saban addressed his controversial remarks about Alabama not being selected for the SEC Championship on SportsCenter, as reported by On3’s Charlie Potter.
“Nick Saban says on SportsCenter not picking Alabama to play for an SEC title was ‘counter rat poison,’” Potter tweeted. “‘I never wanted to get picked first. I always wanted to be the underdog. This was counter rat poison. I hope they understand that.'”
Referring to his SEC title predictions, Saban commented:
“I really like Texas. I think Georgia has got a really good team,” Saban said Monday. “I believe in our Alabama team, too. I believe in Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary – until those get resolved – it’s hard to, sort of, jump on that bandwagon.”
Crimson Tide offensive lineman Tyler Booker joked about Saban’s reluctance to pick Alabama to win the SEC, leading to Saban’s “counter rat poison” comment.
“He would get mad about me if I felt a way about what he said because he always used to say, ‘Don’t let some guy that lives in their mom’s basement determine how you feel,’” said Booker. “So I’m not gonna let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel.”
Saban has a valid point, as Alabama had 10 players drafted into the NFL this year, including first-rounders JC Latham (offensive lineman), Dallas Turner (linebacker), and Terrion Arnold (cornerback). Defensive backs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Jaylen Key also went pro, contributing to Saban’s concerns about the secondary.
Who did the Crimson Tide recruit to fill these vacancies? Will they be able to prove Saban’s doubts unfounded?
Alabama football has something to prove this season
New head coach Kalen DeBoer has significant expectations to meet, but he’s fortunate to have a talent-rich roster. According to 247 Sports, the Crimson Tide boasts the second-ranked recruiting class and the third-ranked transfer class for 2024.
The incoming high school recruits are headlined by five-star talents such as wide receiver Ryan Williams, cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, quarterback Julian Sayin, cornerback Zabien Brown, and safety Zavier Mincey. Additionally, the program has secured several talented defensive back transfers, including USC’s Domani Jackson, Wake Forest’s DaShawn Jones, and Charlotte’s Kameron Howard.
The key challenge will be integrating these players into DeBoer’s vision for the team. DeBoer, coming off a National Championship appearance with the Washington Huskies, has a strong coaching pedigree. However, in Tuscaloosa, expectations are sky-high, and the 49-year-old coach must demonstrate that last season’s success was no fluke.