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Alabama Football: And so it begins as Tide DC Pruitt recruits for the Vols

By Ronald Evans

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 10: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the kickoff of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs on October 10, 2015 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 10: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the kickoff of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs on October 10, 2015 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football will be going head-to-head in recruiting battles with its own defensive coordinator as Jeremy Pruitt chases top prospects for the Vols.

Some Alabama football fans will recognize a line from a caller used in the intro to the Paul Finebaum Show. The caller is talking either to Paul or another caller and says, “You got a dag burn crappy attitude.”

That line is applicable to some Alabama football fans (especially this one) whose DNA includes hatred for the Tennessee Vols. We have a ‘dag burn crappy attitude’ about a Tennessee head coach also being a Tide defensive coordinator. When that head coach, known nationally for his recruiting prowess starts chasing Tide, 2018 recruits, ‘crappy’ is too mild of an adjective.

ICYMI: Pruitt as DC through Playoffs is a bad idea

Going ‘Bo’ and we don’t mean Jackson

Not even the most delusional of us thinks Nick Saban needs our advice. Still, we wish Nick would take a Bo Schembechler approach to Jeremy Pruitt. In 1989, shortly before Michigan was to begin an NCAA basketball tournament run, the Wolverines head coach Bill Frieder accepted another job. Bo was Michigan’s head football coach and athletic director at the time.

Frieder told Bo he was leaving Michigan after the NCAA tournament. Bo immediately fired him and said “A Michigan man will coach Michigan.” Bo named Michigan assistant Steve Fisher interim head coach. Fisher led the Michigan team to the NCAA championship.

If only Nick would use a similar line with Jeremy Pruitt. Nick, however, does not have a ‘crappy’ attitude and he has chosen to do what he believes is best for the 2017 Alabama football team. So after working his tail off for several days trying to take 2018 recruits from Alabama football, Jeremy Pruitt will ostensibly place requisite focus on a game-plan for Clemson and coaching the Tide defense.

By then recruiting will be in a mandated ‘dead period’ until January 11th. The NCAA ‘dead period’ means limited access to recruits, as in no in-person contact. Recruiting does not stop but it is restricted.

Damage to 2018 recruiting

We cannot know how much damage Jeremy Pruitt will do to the Tide’s 2018 signing class. Admittedly, using a Schembechler action with Pruitt would free Jeremy up, even more, to recruit against the Tide.

Either way, Pruitt will chase (is already chasing) prime Tide targets like Brandon Kaho, Dominick Wood-Anderson, J.J. Peterson, Jacob Copeland, Andres Fox and others. Nick Saban is probably still the best recruiting closer in the nation. Nick will win more than his share of the battles.

Unlike passion-driven fans, most coaches, most of the time, conduct themselves as professionals. Even this passionate fan is willing to trade a lost recruit or two in exchange for another national championship. Trusting Nick Saban is a wise perspective on all things Alabama football.

But how sweet it would be for Nick to go all ‘Bo’ on Pruitt and tell him to paddle his way up the Tennessee River to Knoxville. And then win another national championship with an ‘Alabama man.’

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In case anyone wonders if we have an ax to grind against Pruitt. The answer is no, other than believing Dabo Swinney would be a far better choice to one day succeed Nick Saban.

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