Link: Tua Would've Transferred if he didn't play in NC game.

[Saban4Ever]

The issue seems to be that he was coached to expect a role in the Clemson game but never got on the field so his family's mindset going into the CFPCG was very much dependent on how that played out. I don't think Tua or his family ever wanted to make it about starting or leaving. It was clear to everyone that he need to be on the field for real snaps by the end of the season. Hurts had an up and down season and Tua frankly looked like a better passer in nearly very game both participated.

Frankly, Saban was incredibly conservative when it came to the QB position in 2017 up until the absolute last moment to save it. He didn't have the desire and/or creativity to invent a way for this to work like a reverse Leak-Tebow '06 situation. If Tau's parents spent the greater part of 2017 seeing that offense and wonder why the staff was not giving their son a few real snaps each game to spread out the defense with the passing game then they only saw the season like most fans who were watching.

He deserved to be on the field more in 2017. The fact he was not developed in that fashion over the regular season put the team in a position where the staff felt they couldn't risk putting him in at Jordan-Hare. If not for some good fortune with the committee, that roster decision basically cost us a national title due to that passing game deficiency catching up to us against our best regular season opponent on the road.

I don't really fault this talk because if he didn't see the field and Alabama loses the national title then I'd bet on a slew of freshmen offensive players transferring out of Tuscaloosa. The offense was incredibly poorly managed at quarterback and it is clear that the HC was the center of those roster decisions. It is weird to say this but Saban may have "saved" his career at halftime of the CFPCG. Of course, when you have 5 national titles you don't really lose your career anymore but it is fair to say that 2 straight title game losses where ineffectual offense cost the team would've been incredibly debilitating in recruiting. The dynasty would likely be dead and gone. If he navigates through this little QB fiasco well then I imagine he's effectively extended his dynasty for another full recruiting cycle.

I agree. The title game (2nd year in a row) was on the line, but also the recruiting for the next few years. I am so glad Tua played. I was at the game, and I knew from the second Tua went in that we had a great chance to win.

I do hope Tua is the starter, not just for the team's sake, but for recruiting. I doubt BAMA will sign his brother or some others being recruited (even though they have verbally committed) if Tua leaves. I am sure Saban realizes this, but I am not sure how he will handle things. I trust him to do what is best for the team.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I remember reading an article that came out after the championship game that said Tua was promised to get some playing time against Clemson. We know that he didn't play in that game but I don't know if this was true or not. The same article stated that coach Daboll also was frustrated that Tua wasn't playing. Whether or not any of this is true, it serves no purpose to put this out to the media now.
We've got Jalen's dad talking one way, and now Tua is saying if he doesn't start he's gone. I guess this is off season "clutter" but the sooner CNS names a starter, the better IMO.

That may or may not be true.

However......that idea was likely under the ASSUMPTION that Alabama-Clemson III was going to be similar to the first two games.

Once we had a 24-6 lead, there was NO REASON to run the risk of putting him in the game. Jalen HAS improved his ball handling and just so we could keep some semblance of a running game going with that huge lead, they weren't coming back. We took that huge a lead with 20 minutes left in the game. No need to put in Tua to throw when we didn't need to, possibly make a game-changing mistake, or expose him to injury.

So while that may have been the plan, it's understandable to see why it didn't happen that way.

Btw - after the Wilson TD - Hurts was 3 of 7 for 14 yards.

 

[TD7]

It is true Tua was supposed to play vs Clemson. Kevin Hagen was on the Bill King show (someone posted the audio link) the day after national championship game, and he was saying Tua was actually supposed to play vs Clemson, but coach didn't get him in the game for some reason. I also believe that I heard Todd Blackledge say during the game telecast that he heard in the practice he visited that week that Tua supposed to get into the game and that Tua looked visibly frustrated on the sidelines verse Clemson.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Personally, I think Saban needs to name Tua the starter, to the team at least, soon. He's backed into a little bit of a corner because of Tua's injury but the sooner this is all official the better IMO.

 

[DrollTide]

It is weird to say this but Saban may have "saved" his career at halftime of the CFPCG. Of course, when you have 5 national titles you don't really lose your career anymore but it is fair to say that 2 straight title game losses where ineffectual offense cost the team would've been incredibly debilitating in recruiting. The dynasty would likely be dead and gone. If he navigates through this little QB fiasco well then I imagine he's effectively extended his dynasty for another full recruiting cycle.

Thanks, RGW, this is a powerful paragraph. No matter how good you are, the end can come quickly and the pressure is always on you. I agree very much that Saban might not have been in this situation if Tua had gotten to play more during the season - we can't comment much because we are not privy to all the dynamics of that. But even then Coach rode the status quo out to something very very near to a second straight loss, and boy would things look different today had that played out.

 

[Its On A Slab]

At this level of competition, when only one person can play that position, and it appears that you won't see the field for a long time, I have no problem with a kid looking at his options.

You see this happen every year at top programs. Right now, Joe Burrows is the shiny nickel in the QB transfer derby.

 

[rylandtide]

To me its obvious that Tua is the starting QB.

Jalen is a great young man and a great athlete. If he wants to play in the NFL, it will not be at QB. He could play so many other positions and play them well. I hope he realizes this and stays at Alabama.

 

[Pilot172000]

I got no problem with him saying this. He is being honest and forthright with a young group of kids. As for starting, I have always been team Jalen, and support #2 in everything he has done but Tua is our starting QB. It’s the right move from a coaching standpoint.

 

[bamamc1]

I remember listening to the OD the week of the Clemson game and they had Phil Savage on and he pretty much said that Tua was going to get playing time vs. Clemson. You can bet that if Phil says that he knew what he was talking about. Wish we could keep both but I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

 

[81usaf92]

Would you look at that..... Lane Kiffin was right

 

[CrimsonForce]

To me its obvious that Tua is the starting QB.

Jalen is a great young man and a great athlete. If he wants to play in the NFL, it will not be at QB. He could play so many other positions and play them well. I hope he realizes this and stays at Alabama.

Not in the NFL. Basically 0% chance he'd get drafted as a QB or any other position. He's one of those players that's a great college athlete but doesn't really have a skillset that transfers to the NFL. Not quick enough for a RB, not big enough for TE. Maybe an H-Back type position but that'd be a complimentary role at best. Curious what you have in mind as the "so many other positions" he could play well at the NFL level..

 

[ChattTide]

Not in the NFL. Basically 0% chance he'd get drafted as a QB or any other position. He's one of those players that's a great college athlete but doesn't really have a skillset that transfers to the NFL. Not quick enough for a RB, not big enough for TE. Maybe an H-Back type position but that'd be a complimentary role at best. Curious what you have in mind as the "so many other positions" he could play well at the NFL level..

Linebacker.

I mean isn't that the default position for great athletes?

Jimmy Johns says hi.

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think Tua saying this publicly serves more than one purpose. The obvious purpose was for the occasion in which he was speaking and to the audience. To kids who feel like giving up and quitting, to be patient and keep working hard and hoping. But I think he also said it as a "message" to CNS and staff.

 

[BamaMoon]

Jalen's had 2+ years and he hasn't improved yet. It's not likely that he'll ever be as good as #13 is already.

Well, that's not exactly so. Hurts turned the ball over 14 times as a freshman, so he improved on that. Going 3 and out so often against good defenses, though, is a lot like turning it over. It darn sure isn't conducive to a prolific offense.

Jalen weighed the option of "I'm not going to throw a risky ball and INT" vs. "I'll take my chances with going three and out" and we can probably win with the enormous talent around me. And he almost got away with it.

In my mind he didn't "improve" in any way, but rather, regressed as a QB. Any successful QB that throws the ball well will have INTs, but, IMO, Jalen tried his best to redefine that fact and, I believe CNS waited (almost too late) until one historic half of football, to allow Tua the opportunity to debunk that flawed view. Ironically, his TD/INT ratio was 3 to 1 in the NC game - not far off normal numbers for good, passing qbs.

Personally, I think Saban needs to name Tua the starter, to the team at least, soon. He's backed into a little bit of a corner because of Tua's injury but the sooner this is all official the better IMO.

I don't think CNS will allow anybody to back him in a corner, publicly. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he's already told Tua that if you continue to do what you've already proven you can do you have nothing to worry about.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I think Tua saying this publicly serves more than one purpose. The obvious purpose was for the occasion in which he was speaking and to the audience. To kids who feel like giving up and quitting, to be patient and keep working hard and hoping. But I think he also said it as a "message" to CNS and staff.

There were quite a few reporters who implied that Tua and Jalen/their family wouldn't let this go ontoo long. I wonder if this and what Jalen's dad said are them attempting to move things along some.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

There were quite a few reporters who implied that Tua and Jalen/their family wouldn't let this go ontoo long. I wonder if this and what Jalen's dad said are them attempting to move things along some.

And you know, I don't blame the families one bit. I know CNS has "his way" of doing things and in his perfect world he will have two very talented qb's on his sideline come the fall. Who are both sold out to helping the team win, and both have a great attitude and everybody's dreaming of unicorns and lollipops. But the reality of it is, this will not be the case. They barely held the team together last year from a mutiny because of the tension. I wouldn't want to roll the dice on this happening again. In this particular case, it maybe best for all parties involved for CNS to go ahead and name a starter when he and the staff know who they are sold on. That way the non starter can move on. Jalen and Tua handled it about as well as you could ask kids their age to handle it. But I wouldn't bank on it again this season. In other words, one of them has to go.

 

[RedWave]

Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope...

Now Jalen's dad chimes in.

 

[BamaInBham]

Many kids seriously consider transferring but when it comes time to do it, don't. Also, it appears that his parents were not for it, at least not earlier. I.e., who knows what would have happened.

It would be a shock if Tua was sending a message to CNS and staff. If he wanted to send a message the way to do it is in person. IMO, as many have noted, he was speaking about perseverance in the face of not having your way at the moment.

I also doubt that Tua was "promised" playing time in the Clemson game. He was more than likely told to be ready, maybe even that he would probably play. But that's quite different than promising a player and just does not sound like CNS. CNS stated that they had planned on playing him but circumstances rendered that plan unnecessary.

 

[ShoalCreek]

Tua is not going anywhere. His parents want him to learn about adversity. Never quit. A strong family, with positive Christian beliefs, is what's it's all about.

 

[Crimson White]

Tua is not going anywhere. His parents want him to learn about adversity. Never quit. A strong family, with positive Christian beliefs, is what's it's all about.

I suppose he's being very frank and truthful about the fact he would have transferred had he not gotten the chance to prove himself, but he did get that chance, and did prove himself. Personally, I think he had already proven he was better but that's a moot point anyway. That aside, his comments are being taken out of context. He was talking to a middle school class about perseverance.

Finally, there is this article where he talks about his recovery going well and he's looking forward to competing, along with Jones and Hurts, for the starting qb position. Sorry if already posted...https://247sports.com/college/alaba...71-E5-1D-BF-34180518_093200AlabamaCrimsonTide