Alabama Football: Nick Saban sets tone for new season

It’s happening Crimson Tide fans, with the first day of Fall Camp, a new Alabama football season has begun. It has been, by anyone’s estimate – a long wait. A wait made especially long by the outcome of the last game.

Earlier this week, Nick Saban explained the 2021 season was one in which the Crimson Tide went through a rebuilding process. Like many statements made by Saban, responses were overblown. Some blamed Saban for audacity, comparing a 13-win team that won an SEC Championship and played for a National Championship to programs that struggle through rebuilding years. A few detractors even claimed Saban was whining.

On Thursday afternoon, Saban responded,

"I don’t think our standard is like everybody else’s standard …"

What an understatement. It was not, however, a clarification. The added words were an exclamation point.

As for most post-practice comments following the first day of a fall camp, Saban’s other comments were more general than specific.

Alabama football fans know well one area for improvement

He talked about a need for improvement from a key element well known to Alabama football fans.

"I don’t think there’s any question about the fact that we need to play better on the offensive line. We need to be more physical up front, first of all, and get movement on the run… we just have to have a different mentality up front in terms of the intangibles that we play with. The toughness, the effort. The offensive line is a place where that gets established on your team.…I like the players that we have. I like the attitude they have sort of played with to this point. I like the coach that we have now and his energy and enthusiasm while he’s teaching the players. I like the additions that we made in the running game to maybe add a little more consistency there, which is going to help play-action passes and a lot of other advantage throws that we can make to run the ball effectively."

Over the last few days, it had been rumored tight end, Cameron Latu had a knee injury and might miss games in the first month of the season. Saban provided accurate information, saying,

"Well, Cam is going to miss some time in camp. I don’t know for exactly how long."

Saban did not disclose any additional details, but talking about missed time in cam

A full video of the media session is provided below, compliments of WVTM.

The Crimson Tide will return to the practice field on Friday afternoon for its second Fall Camp session.