Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Wednesday and Thursday, September 3rd and 4th.
Ryan Williams catches heat from former Alabama QB, plenty of others
Former Alabama QB AJ McCarron had a lot to say about sophomore WR Ryan Williams. None of it was necessary. McCarron started out by saying he loved Williams, but then criticized pretty much everything about his game. He called him soft, questioned his route-running ability, and plenty more.
Williams was one of Alabama's most popular players as a true freshman, bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old prodigy. Now, after one bad game, he's faced undue criticism from the fanbase. From the nail polish to the stuffed animals to his podcast.
I have two words to sum up my feelings on all of that: shut up. Just shut up about it. Let the kid be a kid. He's a spectacular athlete, and if you keep saying stupid stuff online, you're going to push him away.
Kalen DeBoer updates Alabama's plethora of injuries
Just one game into the season, Alabama is pretty banged up. Kalen DeBoer offered some updates on those injuries on Wednesday night.
Star RB Jam Miller may be closer to a return than many thought. DeBoer mentioned there was a possibility he could play next week. The same was said about senior NT Tim Keenan III.
Keenan's return becomes even more vital after the news of redshirt freshman Jeremiah Beaman - Keenan's backup - suffering a season-ending injury in practice on Wednesday. That's a big blow at a position group the Crimson Tide was already thin at.
Ryan Williams suffered a concussion in last week's game, but DeBoer mentioned he's recovering nicely. He's still in protocol, but he's participated in practice with zero contact. He's trending toward being able to play this weekend.
DeBoer shows some fire during "Hey Coach"
During his weekly radio show "Hey Coach," DeBoer finally showed a little bit of fire, which Alabama fans have been wanting ever since he took the job. He talked about how he was pissed off with out the team played against Florida State, vowing to get things fixed.
It will be interesting to see if that fire translates onto the field. Will we see an animated version of DeBoer on Saturday during the ULM game? Will he challenge the team, call them out for any lack of effort?
It might be what it takes to get through to a team that looked indifferent a week ago in Tallahassee.
Alabama vs. ULM ticket prices are shockingly low
The cost of being a college football fan is steadily rising, so it's not exactly going to be a surprise moving forward when universities struggle to sell tickets to non-marquee games. But the home opener? That used to be an easy sell-out, no matter the opponent.
I'm afraid the upper deck is going to be more barren than usual this weekend after the Tide's pitiful performance against FSU. Right now, get-in prices are cheaper than a fast food combo and a matinee movie ticket.
Maybe this week the team will give the fanbase something worth watching.
Latrell Wrightsell clears a major huddle
Latrell Wrightsell's long road back from tearing his Achilles tendon in November of last season is nearly complete. The sixth-year senior guard has been cleared for non-contact work and has returned to some basic basketball activities.
With over two months to go until the season tips off, Wrightsell is trending toward being available for Alabama's season opener. Even with a deeper backcourt this season, Wrightsell's experience and shooting will be a key component to this roster.
Amari Cooper calls it a career
Less than two weeks after signing a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, former Alabama star WR Amari Cooper has decided instead to retire. Just three days before the Raiders opened the 2025 NFL season, Cooper informed the team he was walking away.
Cooper is calling it a career after 10 years and 10,000 receiving yards. He was a 5-time Pro Bowler, spending his NFL career with the Raiders, Cowboys, Browns, and, most recently, the Buffalo Bills.
Cooper is an Alabama legend. He still holds the freshman record for receiving yards, caught the game-winning TD pass to beat Georgia in the 2012 SEC Championship Game, and won the Biletnikoff and finished 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting in 2014.
Cooper is one of two former Alabama legendary WRs to call it quits this offseason, joining Julio Jones, who formally announced his retirement back in the spring.