Spring Football - 2025

[tusks_n_raider]

We're now loaded at the WR position as well with kids who solely play WR. I hope he doesn't turn into a "jack of all trades but a master of none" type of player. If he's a better CB than WR I want him at that position, not necessarily at the position he wants to be at and though it may take some hard conversations, the staff needs to make that determination and have a conversation with him so he doesn't waste his talent.

I don’t like how the whole thing went down with portal shenanigans.

If he’s a better WR than CB then so be it but we recruited him to be a CB and not every player is going to be Travis Hunter.

Hopefully it works out is all I can say.

 

[cdub55]

I imagine that would change depending on how many number are to the left of the decimal point of your donation.

I remember when we were prepping for UGA in the SECCG a few years back, one of my friends (HC at a big school in state) called me to see if I wanted to ride over and watch practice. I told him yes and a few days later he called and said, "they aren't letting anyone in, practices are closed." Bama was heavily recruiting one of my players and I told him to let me see what I could do. I called the DC at the time and told him I might ride over and watch practice. He said, "c'mon coach" and we both walked in with our passes laying on the table when we entered the indoor. We were the only coaches there and he looked at me and had a few funny choice words that aren't suitable for TideFans. Long story to say, yes rules are not equal for everyone. Without my 4-5* guy, I would have been politely told no...

 

[cdub55]

We're now loaded at the WR position as well with kids who solely play WR. I hope he doesn't turn into a "jack of all trades but a master of none" type of player. If he's a better CB than WR I want him at that position, not necessarily at the position he wants to be at and though it may take some hard conversations, the staff needs to make that determination and have a conversation with him so he doesn't waste his talent.

Saban had an interesting take on this and I'm not so sure I believe him but he basically said that he never forced a player to change positions if they didn't want to. This came up in a conversation this past year with Pat White and his recruitment. I tend to agree with you, but in today's portal age, if a player doesn't want to play a position, they will just simply move to the school that will let them.

Pat McAfee Facilitates Pat White Finally Asking Nick Saban About His Recruitment

In the midst of a full WVU centered Pat McAfee Show focused on honoring WVU’s past and offering hope for the future, Nick Saban appeared and had a very interesting conversation with a Mountaineer legend. Pat White, who was part of most of the show, asked the Saban one question that’s been on his...

wvsportsnow.com

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Saban had an interesting take on this and I'm not so sure I believe him but he basically said that he never forced a player to change positions if they didn't want to. This came up in a conversation this past year with Pat White and his recruitment. I tend to agree with you, but in today's portal age, if a player doesn't want to play a position, they will just simply move to the school that will let them.

Pat McAfee Facilitates Pat White Finally Asking Nick Saban About His Recruitment

In the midst of a full WVU centered Pat McAfee Show focused on honoring WVU’s past and offering hope for the future, Nick Saban appeared and had a very interesting conversation with a Mountaineer legend. Pat White, who was part of most of the show, asked the Saban one question that’s been on his...

wvsportsnow.com

It's a double-edged sword in my opinion. Let the kid change positions, and either win a starting spot or not. The problem I have with it is if the kid ultimately doesn't he's wasted not only his reps but taken reps away from others who actually play the position. I get the portal and kids having more leverage, but if the coaching staff firmly believes a kid is better for a position than what the kid is asking to play. It may be just as good an idea to let the kid go somewhere else. In this particular case, who knows what the staff believes? They may believe he could be a starting WR. If so, then yeah, let him switch.

 

[cdub55]

It's a double-edged sword in my opinion. Let the kid change positions, and either win a starting spot or not. The problem I have with it is if the kid ultimately doesn't he's wasted not only his reps but taken reps away from others who actually play the position. I get the portal and kids having more leverage, but if the coaching staff firmly believes a kid is better for a position than what the kid is asking to play. It may be just as good an idea to let the kid go somewhere else. In this particular case, who knows what the staff believes? They may believe he could be a starting WR. If so, then yeah, let him switch.

Based on what I've seen of him I think they see that upside offensively. IMO he is an elite level athlete with above average hand eye coordination, great footwork, and ++ field vision. The things holding him back will be reps reps reps. The things you can't teach he holds in spades and those are the type of guys you don't just let leave because of a position disagreement. I think he will be a factor sooner than later. Add to all that, I think he is a great young man and he was one of the more vocal recruits in trying to get others to sign, I'm personally glad he is still on the roster and hope it stays that way.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Based on what I've seen of him I think they see that upside offensively. IMO he is an elite level athlete with above average hand eye coordination, great footwork, and ++ field vision. The things holding him back will be reps reps reps. The things you can't teach he holds in spades and those are the type of guys you don't just let leave because of a position disagreement. I think he will be a factor sooner than later. Add to all that, I think he is a great young man and he was one of the more vocal recruits in trying to get others to sign, I'm personally glad he is still on the roster and hope it stays that way.

If the staff believes he's worth trying this for then they need to do it. Time will tell if it works out for him or not.

 

[HearMeOut]

I remember when we were prepping for UGA in the SECCG a few years back, one of my friends (HC at a big school in state) called me to see if I wanted to ride over and watch practice. I told him yes and a few days later he called and said, "they aren't letting anyone in, practices are closed." Bama was heavily recruiting one of my players and I told him to let me see what I could do. I called the DC at the time and told him I might ride over and watch practice. He said, "c'mon coach" and we both walked in with our passes laying on the table when we entered the indoor. We were the only coaches there and he looked at me and had a few funny choice words that aren't suitable for TideFans. Long story to say, yes rules are not equal for everyone. Without my 4-5* guy, I would have been politely told no...

You Are definitely correct ……. The rules are not equal for everyone. When Dan Mullen first came to MS State, practices were closed. Fortunately I had a Son who was part of the program. So yes, my “pass” was waiting for me with the person at the gate. Once in, I saw several of the “big donor” looking dudes also there to watch. So don’t ever let anyone convince you that the practices are closed. If you have the right connection, you’re in!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

You Are definitely correct ……. The rules are not equal for everyone. When Dan Mullen first came to MS State, practices were closed. Fortunately I had a Son who was part of the program. So yes, my “pass” was waiting for me with the person at the gate. Once in, I saw several of the “big donor” looking dudes also there to watch. So don’t ever let anyone convince you that the practices are closed. If you have the right connection, you’re in!

Money has always "talked".

 

[TiderJack]

Keelon talking about Lotzier Brooks. If he picks up the playbook he is going to see the field quite a bit.

https://247sports.com/college/alabama/article/brooks-buzz-keelon-russell-compares-fellow-freshman-to-heisman-winner-super-bowl-champion-247182451/

 

[AlexanderFan]

We're now loaded at the WR position as well with kids who solely play WR. I hope he doesn't turn into a "jack of all trades but a master of none" type of player. If he's a better CB than WR I want him at that position, not necessarily at the position he wants to be at and though it may take some hard conversations, the staff needs to make that determination and have a conversation with him so he doesn't waste his talent.

Didn’t Diggs come in as a WR like his brother?

Shame the switch didn’t work out for him

 

[AlexanderFan]

Keelon talking about Lotzier Brooks. If he picks up the playbook he is going to see the field quite a bit.

https://247sports.com/college/alabama/article/brooks-buzz-keelon-russell-compares-fellow-freshman-to-heisman-winner-super-bowl-champion-247182451/

They can make you noticeably faster now, but if you start out faster, they can make you faster-er.

He seems to be the steal of the class, some of you recruiting gurus predicted this.

 

[TiderJack]

They can make you noticeably faster now, but if you start out faster, they can make you faster-er.

He seems to be the steal of the class, some of you recruiting gurus predicted this.

Yep, SJC and myself were high on him from the get-go. He was a 3* up until the end of the recruiting cycle which was strange since he was reported as the fastest player in the entire class and he shattered all receiving state records in New Jersey. Comparisons to the Slim Reaper and Waddle since he has arrived on campus say a lot.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Didn’t Diggs come in as a WR like his brother?

Shame the switch didn’t work out for him

If it works, great, it works. My point was/is as long as the coaches are on board that it is a realistic position change then great. But not every position change this late in someone's football career is a "Diggs" story. Also, many times the coaches have a better idea of the position the player is best at than the player themselves. What someone loves to do and what they do best aren't always the same. I don't know if Saban honored every position change request or if he "okayed" some and said no to others. I can't remember him specifically talking about it during his tenure.

 

[AlexanderFan]

If it works, great, it works. My point was/is as long as the coaches are on board that it is a realistic position change then great. But not every position change this late in someone's football career is a "Diggs" story. Also, many times the coaches have a better idea of the position the player is best at than the player themselves. What someone loves to do and what they do best aren't always the same. I don't know if Saban honored every position change request or if he "okayed" some and said no to others. I can't remember him specifically talking about it during his tenure.

This is the player’s choice, I’m not as high on it as Diggs.

 

[Padreruf]

If it works, great, it works. My point was/is as long as the coaches are on board that it is a realistic position change then great. But not every position change this late in someone's football career is a "Diggs" story. Also, many times the coaches have a better idea of the position the player is best at than the player themselves. What someone loves to do and what they do best aren't always the same. I don't know if Saban honored every position change request or if he "okayed" some and said no to others. I can't remember him specifically talking about it during his tenure.

I can remember CNS saying something to the effect that "we encourage them to go in a certain direction, but if they want to play another position, then we let them. It's a tough game and really tough when you aren't playing where you want to play."

 

[gtgilbert]

Didn’t Diggs come in as a WR like his brother?

Shame the switch didn’t work out for him

We thought Diggs would be a DB, but he wanted to try WR, and did play some there his first year before settling in as a corner for the rest of his time with us.

 

[bamaga]

They can make you noticeably faster now, but if you start out faster, they can make you faster-er.

He seems to be the steal of the class, some of you recruiting gurus predicted this.

I predicted it, and I’m not a guru. I did watch his tape though. I said then and I say it now, if he played in a different state he would have been a 5* kid. Anyway, I’m glad he is wearing Crimson

 

[AlexanderFan]

We thought Diggs would be a DB, but he wanted to try WR, and did play some there his first year before settling in as a corner for the rest of his time with us.

He was a receiver in high school, swapped over in college.

Saban had Mbakwe at corner, I think he should’ve stayed.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

You Are definitely correct ……. The rules are not equal for everyone. When Dan Mullen first came to MS State, practices were closed. Fortunately I had a Son who was part of the program. So yes, my “pass” was waiting for me with the person at the gate. Once in, I saw several of the “big donor” looking dudes also there to watch. So don’t ever let anyone convince you that the practices are closed. If you have the right connection, you’re in!

You‘re absolutely right that money has always talked and always will. But if you restrict access to 7-figure donors, two things happen.

First, tracing leaks is a lot easier if for no reason other than there are far fewer suspects. Second, 7-figure donors generally didn’t get where they are by betraying sources. Exceptions noted, at this level, they tend not to run their mouths, let alone post it on the internet.

Point being, all colleges, Alabama included, are clamping down on fan and even donor access.

But donors are not created equal.

Contribute $100K, and you’ll get a nice tchotchke. Contribute $250K, or even $500K, and you’ll get nicer tchotchkes and handwritten thank you notes. Contribute a million, and now you have some access. You also have a lot more traceability.

The people who contribute at that level understand how the game is played.

 

[dvldog]

My enthusiasm is waning and it doesn’t appear anything is being done to improve it. Really the only thing keeping me interested is seeing if Ty wins starting QB. That might or might not reduce the sting from last two years.