Nick Saban is not a racist, here’s why

Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban has stated that Jalen Hurts won’t get the start against USC this week. So obviously, he’s a racist. RIght?

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Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban has stated that Jalen Hurts won’t get the start against USC this week. So obviously, he’s a racist.

Right?

Not exactly.

Nick Saban has decided on the best players to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday against the Southern California Trojans.

One of those players is redshirt junior Cooper Bateman.  Bateman is white.

The second man slated to take snaps is redshirt freshman Blake Barnett. Barnett is white.

Reports surfaced after several practices stating that Hurts was taking most of the reps. In fact, many believed the true freshman had an actual shot at taking the starting job.

So when Nick Saban announced the depth charts for this weekend’s game, most were surprised – and some were outraged.

Note: When Twitter Coaches stating their thoughts about the abilities of each QB were asked to provide their credentials, most declined.

Some people took to social media to declare that because Bateman and Barnett are both white, Nick Saban is clearly a racist.

In light of that notion, BamaHammer is here to provide you with facts. We don’t believe in unnamed sources here; facts are facts.

FACT:

Nick Saban loves Mrs. Terry, his kids, and Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.

Nick Saban hates one thing and one thing only: Losing.

End of list.

Please notice that “black people” aren’t on the list of things Nick Saban hates. The Bama nation should rest easy knowing that the man in charge is going to do what’s best for the team – and that is what is most likely to get wins and eventually, a fifth national championship.

FACT:

The depth chart released today has 62 players on it. Of those players, 47 are black and 15 are white.

That’s 75.8% black an 24.2% white, in case you are wondering.

There’s also just one white player, Keith Holcombe, even LISTED on the defensive side of the ball.

Is it possible to look at those numbers and percentages, and truly determine that Nick Saban is a racist who chooses to play white players over black ones? No, it’s not possible, and anyone who tries to make that case does not have a leg to stand on.

FACT:

Cooper Bateman is a redshirt junior, so this could be his last year playing for the Crimson Tide. Blake Barnett is a redshirt freshman, which means he can potentially go to the NFL in two seasons.

If Hurts backs up Bateman and Barnett this year, then even swaps out with Barnett the next, that gives him at least two seasons as Bama’s go-to guy. There’s a possibility for more than that, depending on how long he sticks around before entering the NFL draft. Nick Saban is well aware of the NFL draft rules and how eligibility works; chances are he took this into consideration before making his starter decision.

FACT (well, theory, but you get the picture):

Speaking of the NFL, it’s a possibility that Hurts’ potential pro career played a small part in the decision not to start him this week. Think about it: SEC quarterbacks are subjected to full-on physical punishment from the nastiest defenses in the country week after week. If Hurts has shown superior ability at quarterback, his chances of a long and fruitful career are high. Could Nick Saban be doing Hurts a favor by saving him from a minimum of three seasons’ worth of physical beatings from top SEC defenders? No one really knows this, but it’s definitely a theory worth pondering.

FACT:

There’s more to choosing a starting quarterback than just “who has looked good in practice”, which is all the Armchair Coordinators seem to take in to account. Bateman has experience playing in big SEC games. Yes, we all remember the debacle that was his start against Ole Miss last season, however, experience is still experience.  Barnett was on the sidelines and at practices last year; he’s had ample time to learn the playbook cover to cover. Hurts has only been on campus eight months. Maybe, just maybe, the talented young QB needs a little more time to study the plays that both Bateman and Barnett have memorized over the last year or more. I guarantee that if I’m smart enough to have thought of this, Nick Saban knows all of it and so much more.

Next: Alabama Football: Five Takeaways From The 2016 Depth Chart

BOTTOM LINE:

The bottom line here is that there are plenty of reasons Jalen Hurts isn’t the starter this weekend. No one knows for sure what they are except Nick Saban himself, and as usual, CNS isn’t talking much. Chances are we will see Hurts play this season, and maybe earn a few starts. No one will be surprised if that does in fact happen.

There are plenty of things we do not know about what goes on behind the scenes of the University of Alabama’s football program. We do know one thing is certain – Nick Saban wants to win, and he will play whoever he believes will get Bama that W.

Relax a little bit, support ALL of our players in crimson, and trust The Process, friends. It’s worked pretty well over the last few years, don’t you think?