“I have no idea,” Saban said when asked if he thought Hurts would be on the roster when the season opens Sept. 1 against Louisville. “I expect him to be there. It’s our job to give both players a very fair opportunity to have a chance to win the team at their position. … Both are capable. We’ll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team and they’ll all have to make a decision, based on the outcome (of the competition), as to their future at Alabama.
“Jalen has a great opportunity (to graduate) in December, so we are hopeful he will stay and do that regardless of what happens. … But that’s not to minimize his chances (of winning the starting job).”
All I saw, on another board, was the Twitter. Thanks for the linkThe full quote is a little less interesting
Alabama's starting quarterback controversy remains; 'We'll see,' Nick Saban says
Yea, I think he was clearly trying to toe the line of "I'm not giving you any new piece of information." and "Nothing I tell you will be seen as wrong or a lie no matter what happens"I completely get what he is saying in this and don't think he is wrong. The words "I have no idea" were not the best idea, though. He surely knew this questions was coming for 7 months or so. Might could have come up with a better choice of words there.
Or maybe that was exactly what CNS meant. I agree that CNS rarely says anything he doesn't mean to say.I completely get what he is saying in this and don't think he is wrong. The words "I have no idea" were not the best idea, though. He surely knew this questions was coming for 7 months or so. Might could have come up with a better choice of words there.
I was listening to it on WJOX when he said it. I was shocked that he worded it that way. I fully expected his answer to be, "Why wouldn't he be?" When the question was asked, I was expecting a tinhorn level CNS rant to follow.
FWIW, I don't think Coach Saban will say anything about the QB position until he's on the field for the Louisville game.I interpreted the "I have no idea..." statement to mean that CNS doesn't know if JH will be on the team should Tua win the job. But, anyone that believed CNS would give any indication one way or the other as to the status of the starting QB competition needs to take a breath, and be patient. Aside from JPW being the most experienced, or McElroy and McCarron returning after winning national championships, CNS hasn't been open at all about specifically who will win the job. Like what Marcus Spears said today, that's just how CNS is, and you might as well get used to it.
I think a few months back Earle alluded to this may have certainly happened. It was shortly after Mr. Hurts' public comments.FWIW, I don't think Coach Saban will say anything about the QB position until he's on the field for the Louisville game.
But I also don't think Coach Saban already has a pretty firm expectation about who is going to be starting that game, and who is going to be finishing it.
My sense (or at least hope) is that Coach had already had a "heart to heart" meeting with Jalen AND HIS Dad. AND that "Papa" Hurts has already made all the phone calls he wanted to make to HC's &/or OC's around the Country. For Jalen's sake, let's hope Dad also called Urban Meyer and got his opinion.
The truth is quicker. It doesn't waste everybody's time.I am glad that Saban was that frank. If Jalen is thinking about leaving and this pushes him over the edge, so be it. If Jalen is committed to this team for the season, this comment will not matter at all. And, after what Mr. Hurts said this spring, is there any way that Saban can really know where Jalen will be?
Sometimes honesty sounds harsh, but it is still honesty.
Wait. I thought his name was Nick!?!?!I am glad that Saban was that Frank. If Jalen is thinking about leaving and this pushes him over the edge, so be it. If Jalen is committed to this team for the season, this comment will not matter at all. And, after what Mr. Hurts said this spring, is there any way that Saban can really know where Jalen will be?
Sometimes honesty sounds harsh, but it is still honesty.
I could be wrong and completely naive on this. I don't recall exactly the words but he went on to talk about discussing with Jalen the possibility of graduating early and reiterated that it was an open competition that may not be decided at the first game. Later with Marcus Spears he talked about The Peach Bowl with LSU where he inserted Rohan Davy (I believe) in the second half after Josh Booty struggled as being similar to Jalen - Tua. He said that he felt that they knew both QB's capability very well.I do think CNS should be allowed a little liberty and we shouldn't read between the lines, but I think his uncertainty about what will happen to Jalen possibly even before the season and/or at the end of the season speaks to the reality that he's acknowleging he's fully aware that starting Tua may cause Jalen to transfer.
And the congregation said AMEN!The truth is quicker. It doesn't waste everybody's time.
Don't let's forget Layne Hatcher, recruited by none other than Alabama qb coach Dan EnosIt is obvious that CNS would like to have three QB's going into the season and is going to do his best to accomplish that for the benefit of the team.