Emotions exploded when Tua Tagovailoa was lost to injury against Mississippi State. Tua was flown to Birmingham by helicopter during the game’s second half. What’s next for Tua and the Tide?
The only conclusion anyone can make about the injury to Tua Tagovailoa – it appears serious. Serious enough for Tua to be med-flighted from Starkville to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. Nick Saban said Tua injured his hip. Credible sources confirm the seriousness of the injury suggest it will require surgery.
UPDATE: Reports at 4:00 PM Saturday from Aaron Suttles and Jim Dunaway are Tua has a dislocated hip and a fracture and will miss the rest of the season.
Alabama football fans are shocked and saddened. Some Tide fans blame Nick Saban for not bringing in Mac Jones for the last drive of the first half. Opinions of those, not Tide fans, are filled with recriminations, all aimed at Nick Saban.
To the extent Nick Saban needs a defense, he doesn’t need any help from us. We are tempted to lash back at many comments on Twitter but realize doing so accomplishes nothing. We will indirectly respond to one of them. To the father who asked if his tax dollars were being spent on the med-flight – we say, sir, we hope your children never need such a flight, but if they ever do, tax dollars will be the last thing on your mind.
If the injury is as serious as is feared, our concerns should be focused on Tua and his future. Prayers for a full recovery are warranted for the young man and his family. Tua is likely to never suit up for the Crimson Tide again. Our hope is his NFL career is not derailed by the injury.
What’s next for the Crimson Tide? Sorrow for their teammate does not have to be put aside, but the team must move on. Mac Jones has a huge challenge in front of him. Taulia Tagovailoa is suddenly one play away from being QB1.
A practice game next Saturday will help Mac and Taulia. There is time to tweak the gameplan for Auburn. For the Alabama football team, all is not lost. The Tide defense may have also lost a key player on Saturday. Raekwon Davis was on crutches after the game. D.J. Dale was also hurt during the game and did not return.
Former Crimson Tide player, Barrett Jones offered an inside perspective on Nick Saban’s decision to leave Tua in the game.
Final thought regarding Tua: Coach Saban takes players out of the game for one reason: to give other guys a chance to develop. It’s never bc he is afraid they will get hurt. That’s “The Process”. You can’t praise it one second and curse it the next.
— Barrett Jones (@BarrettAJones) November 16, 2019
We will close with a simple statement. Tua Tagovailoa has been a warrior for the Crimson Tide. He earned every bit of our collective admiration and respect.
The new pressure on Mac Jones and Taulia Tagovailoa will be intense. To the extent he can, there is no doubt Tua Tagovailoa will do everything he can to help them.