Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Monday and Tuesday, September 21st and 22nd.
Ryan Grubb's controversial comments draw a further wedge between himself and Alabama fans
It's never really felt like Ryan Grubb has embraced coaching at Alabama. He did everything he could to avoid moving to Tuscaloosa with Kalen DeBoer in 2024, lobbying for the Washington head coaching job and then ultimately taking the Seattle Seahawks OC job. He arrived in town a year later after the Seahawks fired him.
His first season as Alabama's OC left a sour taste in a lot of fans' mouths with the Crimson Tide's struggles to run the football. Year two has gotten off to a better start, but his comments on Monday about fans booing in the first quarter after consecutive three-and-outs by the offense didn't sit well:
"I told the guys, I said, ‘Shoot guys, if you’d have quit as fast as some of your fans, shit, we wouldn’t have won that game," Grubb said.
Grubb apologized for his comments on Monday night, via a statement released by Yea-Alabama.
There are no winners in this rift between fans and the offensive coordinator.
Alabama gets the early kickoff window next week at Mississippi State
In a matchup that could feature two undefeated teams if Alabama takes care of business against South Carolina and Mississippi State does the same against Missouri, you would think that would be given a primetime kickoff window. Or at least the afternoon ABC game.
Instead, Alabama's road matchup on October 3rd in Starkville will kickoff in the early window at either 11am on ESPN or 11:45am on the SEC Network.
This matchup deserves better, but it might be a significant break for Alabama. The early window will provide a sleepier crowd instead of the raucous type of environment you get in the primetime window when fans have a chance to pregame all day.
Kalen DeBoer says AK Dear, Noah Rogers will be available vs. South Carolina
It's not known what their roles will be right away, but injured offensive players AK Dear and Noah Rogers are set to make their season debuts for Alabama this weekend against South Carolina, per DeBoer.
Dear suffered a high-ankle sprain during the first scrimmage of fall camp, which caused him to miss the first three weeks. Dear was trending for a significant role in the backfield, but now he returns trying to carve out a role in a crowded room. Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'shawn Brown have played really well this season, and it's going to be difficult to take carries away from any of them.
Rogers suffered a significant injury back in the spring during the A-Day scrimmage. He was expected to miss a lot more time, but he beat his injury timeline and will make it back during the first month of the season. Rogers was expected to start alongside Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks before the injury. In his absence, junior Rico Scott has been the No. 3 WR and has performed well.
I wouldn't expect either to play big roles this weekend. DeBoer will slowly work them back in, but with the offense getting rolling against Florida State last week, adding two big-time playmakers is a nice luxury.
2 Alabama flip candidates decommit from schools
Alabama flipped Tulane DL commitment Kavarris "Duke" Duncan over the weekend, and could be closing in on two additional flips.
Memphis DL commit Joshua Lane backed off his pledge to the Tigers right after taking an unofficial visit to Alabama over the weekend. He's expected back in October for an official visit with the Crimson Tide.
UConn CB commit Preston Glasco backed off his pledge to the Huskies on Tuesday night, ahead of his official visit this weekend with Alabama. It's a three-way SEC battle for Glasco, with Georgia and South Carolina fighting to land the fast-rising DB.
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