Alabama Football: 3 decisions that keep Nick Saban awake at night
By Dakota Cox
Nick Saban’s biggest regrets with Alabama football
1. Playing Tua vs. Mississippi State
This regret has nothing to do with the football consequences. It was frustrating to see Alabama’s best offense fail to reach the College Football Playoff, but that’s not why Nick Saban undoubtedly regrets putting Tua back in for one more drive against Mississippi State. Obviously, this is because of the hip injury that Tua had.
It appears that Tua has received best-case scenarios ever since this injury. He got drafted fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, his doctors say that he is fully healed, and he appears to be good to go for full-contact football. However, the best option would have clearly been if he had not gotten hurt in the first place.
Tua’s injury was a freak accident. There is no reason to believe that his prior knee and ankle injuries led to his hip dislocation. Even with that being the case, Tua almost sat out for the rest of the Mississippi State game. The game was out of hand, Mac Jones needed reps, and Tua’s prior injuries were a concern. Alabama needed a healthy Tua in the Iron Bowl, and his hip injury kept that from happening.
Next. Pros and cons of Bryce Young and Mac Jones. dark
I honestly doubt that the Crimson Tide would have won a national championship with Tua in 2019. The LSU Tigers seemed destined to win it all. However, Alabama football fans would have done anything to avoid seeing him go down against Mississippi State. I’m sure that Saban feels that same sentiment.