Alabama Football: No nonsense Nick Saban being bluntly tough

The social media world is abuzz about what Nick Saban said after the first Alabama football spring practice. Some claim Saban was dissatisfied with the backlash caused by Nate Oats’ comment a couple of weeks ago, that Brandon Miller was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On Monday evening Saban stated freshman Tony Mitchell was suspended from the team, following his recent arrest. Saban elaborated by saying,

"Tony Mitchell has been suspended from the team and all team activities until we gather more information about the situation and what his legal circumstance is. Everybody’s got an opportunity to make choices and decisions. There’s no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You’ve gotta be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around and what you do, who you associate yourself with and the situations that you put yourself in. It is what it is, but there is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations."

Was it a direct shot at Nate Oats? Was it also a shot at Greg Byrne and University of Alabama President, Stuart Bell? Plenty of people are guessing for answers, but one thing can be known for sure. Nick Saban never makes uncalculated public comments. The primary purpose for his statement was almost assuredly to send a message to every Alabama football player; “be responsible … there is cause and effect when you make choices.”

An Alabama player, having been a former 5-Star recruit, means nothing to Nick Saban. Make the right choices or suffer the consequences.

There is nothing to be gained by Alabama fans, of football and basketball, to debate what Nick Saban and Nate Oats should have done or not done.

Other Alabama Football Spring News

• Recovering from surgeries Dallas Turner and Deontae Lawson are out for the spring. Roydell Williams and Devonta Smith are also recovering from surgeries but are not expected to miss all of spring practice. Justin Eboigbe, Robbie Ouzts and Jah-Marien Latham will do limited spring work, but no contact work.
• In terms of coaching staff assignments, Saban confirmed Travaris Robinson will coach the entire secondary. He added Kevin Steele would be free to walk around during practices and that he would join Steele in walking around duty.
• Although Saban did not use his favorite ‘work-in-progress’ phrase, Saban was clear development must be the focus for the coaching staff and every player.
• Saban also pointed out the necessity of building depth on the offensive line.

Note: Saban quotes provided by Charlie Potter of BamaOnLine

Alabama Football will have 13 more practice sessions leading up to the A-Day scrimmage.