Alabama Football: On Monday Tua Tagovailoa will announce …

Alabama football quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban will meet with media on Monday at 11:00 AM, Tuscaloosa time. Tua will announce his future football plans.

Speculation abounds about the Monday announcement by Alabama football quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Tua and Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban will meet with the media at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility.

The decision is not expected to be a last-minute one. Of course, Tua’s family will know in advance. Nick Saban will know, as well as a few others on Saban’s staff. Anyone else saying they know in advance is suspect. A leak would be so disrespectful to a family fully deserving of consideration.

Alabama football fans should be happy for Tua, whatever path he chooses for the next year of his life. He and, true to Samoan culture, perhaps his father Galu should decide what they believe is best for Tua. They will be guided by deep religious faith.

What is best for Tua should override what is best for Alabama football. The Crimson Tide will be fine at quarterback whatever happens. Alabama football did not lose to LSU because of an injured and clearly rusty Tua. It did not lose to Auburn because of two, interception pick-sixes; one an absolute fluke. Both games were lost because the Crimson Tide defense was pretty good but far from great.

A return by Dylan Moses and an outstanding group of early-enroll Crimson Tide defenders will improve the defense in 2020.

What is best for Tua is not clear. It depends on the extent of his recovery and how long it will be before he can play football again. It has been widely reported the family received an updated medical assessment in order to guide their decision. Whatever information was provided, there will be recovery unknowns going forward. It may not be known until late spring if Tua has a chance for football contact in August. It could even be sitting out next season will be in his best interest, either in Tuscaloosa or in an NFL city.

Whatever the decision, Alabama football fans should be thankful for such an exceptional young man. He led his team to perhaps the greatest comeback in college football history. He is arguably the greatest Crimson Tide quarterback – ever. And no one could ask for a better team leader and teammate.

Work productivity will dip across the state of Alabama for the minutes before and after 11:00 AM on Monday. Livestreams will be abundant. We will share more thoughts once the decision is known.