Alabama Football: Big news first Nick Saban camp presser not injuries

Alabama Football had its annual early Fall Camp media session Sunday morning. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach, Nick Saban, along with coordinators Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding spoke and answered questions.

Rightfully so, most national attention on Saban’s comments will be about his statement on the death and life of Bobby Bowden. Part of what Saban stated is available below.

"Bobby Bowden was a wonderful friend whose accomplishments as a coach are only surpassed by the character and class he displayed as a husband, father, mentor and friend. His passing is for everyone but should be seen as a chance to celebrate a life remarkably well lived."

Many years ago, after Nick Sr.’s untimely death, Bowden reached out to Nick Jr. and offered him a job. Bowden did not know the younger Saban then, but he knew the father. The, then West Virginia coach, heard Nick’s mother was having a difficult time after her husband’s death. So Bowden called the younger Saban and offered him a job so Nick could be in closer proximity to his mother.

Alabama Football Notes

Alabama football fans have been concerned by recent injury rumors about LaBryan Ray. Nick Saban clarified that Ray had a “pretty significant groin injury” but,

"Hopefully we’ll get him back and he’ll be confident in his ability to play and we’ll just wait to see day-to-day how that goes"

Saban also talked about the injury recovery of Trey Sanders and Malachi Moore. Moore has been doing drills all summer and was a full participant in the Tide’s first two Fall Camp practice sessions. Saban said it is hard to know if or when a back injury will cause future problems, but currently Moore’s “done a really, really good job.”

According to Saban, Sanders is close to 100 percent. The question with Sanders is how he responds once full-contact practice sessions begin.

"The issue always with a player who has a significant injury like he had is how’s he going to respond when he actually starts having to play football and gets hit and has to hit other people."

The biggest player news on Sunday was about Jahleel Billingsley. Although the exact word ‘suspension’ was not used, Billingsley has not participated in the Tide’s first two practice sessions. Saban talked about Billingsley,

"He’s also got to buy into the principles and values of the team and be a good teammate. Do the things that everyone else in the organization does so that he has the respect of his teammates."

Saban added he hopes Billingsley will be back on the practice field in a few days.

There was little headline-making in the media sessions with Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding. O’Brien thanked Saban for the opportunity and praised Bryce Young. Golding had high praise for Henry To’o To’o.