Alabama Football: Notes and Saban review after spring practice No. 4

Alabama football completed its fourth spring practice Tuesday. Afterward, Nick Saban thoughtfully shared praise, admiration, discipline and Easter Egg Hunt anticipation.

Alabama football coach Nick Saban was in a thoughtful mood on Tuesday after the Tide finished its fourth spring practice. He answered questions about players. Tua, Deionte Thompson and Saivion Smith were given special notice. Tua for his quick recovery from a broken finger. He was passing the football on Tuesday. Thompson was commended for his strong performance in the two Playoff games. Smith was extolled for his mental and physical skills.

Nick was also appreciative of others. When asked about the recent death of Wayne Huizenga Jr., Nick expressed sadness and admiration. Speaking of the Miami Dolphins owner, Nick said no one other than his parents had made as positive an impact on him as Huizenga Jr. The respect communicated by Saban was deep and clearly sincere.

Earlier, Saban also had praise for the Alabama football medical team. He mentioned Drs. Cain and Andrews and the entire group of medical experts. Saban described them as the best in their field. Nick is rarely described as being effusive but he was just that on Tuesday afternoon.

Dedication is built upon discipline

All was not bliss in T-Town however. Saban reported on the second consecutive, practice absence of inside linebacker VanDarius Cowan. Cowan is a sophomore who played little in 2017. His physical skills are considerable. Going into the spring season, Cowan was the player was likely to backup Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson at inside linebacker.

Whatever position Cowan had in the linebacker pecking order has apparently been squandered, at least for now. Rumors about Cowan being in the Saban doghouse have circulated among insiders for several weeks. We are aware of them but we have no conclusive information allowing elaboration.

Will VanDarius Cowan return?

On Tuesday Saban said Cowan had erred in academic discipline and as a result was denied the opportunity to practice football. Nick also said Cowan was responding well to the punishment and working his way back. No estimate was given about when Cowan might rejoin his teammates on the practice field.

Nick closed the media session explaining the players would be off on Saturday and Sunday for Easter. His final comments were playful, obviously relishing his plan to hide Easter eggs for his granddaughter, so later he can show her where to find them.

We do not know how many Alabama football fans will agree but this fan is comforted knowing Nick has his Easter priorities on his granddaughter rather than football.

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The Alabama football team will return to the practice field on Tuesday. Another practice will follow on Thursday and the first spring scrimmage will be Saturday, April 7th in Bryant-Denny.