Alabama football coach, Nick Saban has two QBs he believes can win and he does not want the starter role against Louisville to define anything.
Based on message boards and Twitter, the majority of Alabama football fans want Tua Tagovailoa to start against Louisville. A couple of top CFB experts said this week they don’t expect that to happen.
Step back, take a deep breath and calmly consider that contradiction. It is easy to respect Jalen Hurts’ 26-2 record and his leadership skills, on and off the field. It is perhaps even easier to appreciate the apparent potential of Tua. The fact is Alabama football can win with either one of them. For now anyway – until the point another team fields a strong offense and a suffocating defense. When that time comes, a small sample of past experience indicates Tua should be the guy.
Nick Saban staying several moves ahead
Also for now, Nick Saban, like a chess master, has to stay several moves ahead. He has the luxury of two winning QBs and he wants both on the roster as long as possible. The new redshirt rule, allowing a player to play in up to four games and not lose a year of eligibility, injects a new gambit.
The possible permutations are many, some driven by whether Jalen is willing to use a year of eligibility to be Tua’s backup. After Louisville or Arkansas State, Jalen might suggest or accept sitting for possible late-season emergency use. Nick Saban, who has a plan for everything, has to be at least considering that option.
Another alternative would be to play them both for three or more games before one eventually “wins the team.” When Nick Saban repeats this old refrain, he is not being insincere. We all know “who wins the team” will be defined by Saban. Saban will not give the team a vote, but he also will not force an unpopular choice. Some insiders believe both Jalen and Tua have already won the team. That premise suggests a roster of top players respect the two QBs and trust Saban to make the right decision.
On Wednesday, during an ESPN episode of College Football Live, analyst Trevor Matich suggested Saban should and will start Jalen against Louisville. The statement elicited an immediate laugh from Desmond Howard and many Alabama football fans shared Desmond’s response. But, Matich made a good point. He explained there is no need for Saban to rush. Matich even suggested winning the job during the first few games would be best for Tua.
On Friday, after a conversation with Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit said on an ESPN conference call he expects both to play against Louisville.
"They’re four-deep at running back. They’re three- or four-deep at tight end. They’ve got four of the best receivers that they’ve had. They’ve got a great offensive line. If they find a guy that can just be a distributor, just — again, we don’t need anybody to run around. We don’t need anybody to do anything crazy. Distribute the ball. Find the open man. Have an answer."
Hold on to those thoughts a moment and think back to what Nick Saban said to regular Tide media a few weeks ago.
"what you guys are fixed on is somebody has to be first team, and somebody has to be second team. Tell me why? I’m asking you, why? … Why do you think that way?"
Alabama football fans, that was not Nick Saban idly chiding the media. That was Nick Saban making a chess move, well in advance of several more, well-thought-out possible future moves.
The end game for Saban is another national championship. Not even Nick knows how the season will play out. There are just too many variables. Best advice to Alabama football fans – don’t get stressed over which QB starts against Louisville. Nick Saban is several moves ahead of us.
On a message board, someone asked if Alabama football fans would boo should Jalen trot out to lead the Tide’s first possession. Surely that question was a joke – and a bad one.