Tag: Nick Saban

Report: Alabama DL DJ Dale doesn’t travel with team to Auburn

Charlie Potter of 247 Sports reported that Alabama’s true freshman nose tackle, DJ Dale, will not be playing in the 2019 Iron Bowl at Jordan Hare stadium as he did not travel with the team. Nick Saban told Eli Gold that DJ Dale (knee) did not …

Charlie Potter of 247 Sports reported that Alabama’s true freshman nose tackle, DJ Dale, will not be playing in the 2019 Iron Bowl at Jordan Hare stadium as he did not travel with the team.

His knee injury is to blame for him not making the trip to Auburn.

Dale has played in six games in the 2019 season where he has accumulated 17 total tackles, a lone sack and a fumble recovery.

His absence won’t be a huge loss for the Alabama defensive front, and as Potter reported, Saban believes “everybody else has a chance to play in this game.

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Watch: Kenyan Drake explains how Alabama develops NFL talent

Former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake explains to Campus Lore what makes Nick Saban such an effective developer of talent for the NFL.

Since Nick Saban’s arrival at the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide has become well-known for producing high-quality NFL players. Among those players is former running back Kenyan Drake.

The Powder Springs (Ga.) native played for the Crimson Tide from 2012-15. During that four-year career, Drake produced over 2,000 yards from scrimmage (1,495 rushing, 570 receiving) to go along with 22 touchdowns.

That success led Drake being a third-round pick (No. 73 overall) by the Miami Dolphins in 2016. And while the 6-foot-1, 211-pound runner was recently traded to the Arizona Cardinals, his opinion is still respected in the college football world.

Drake recently joined the crew over at Campus Lore to discuss his time at Alabama and explain why the Crimson Tide is so effective at developing that high-quality talent for the NFL. Check out the video below:

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To hear Drake explain how the everything starts at the top with Saban isn’t surprising. During his time at Alabama — and even prior to — he’s become known as one of college football’s most dynamic recruiters. Once he gets those players on campus, he also has the ability to develop that talent.

Here’s one quote that stood out from Drake:

“He just demands the best from you, not just game day, but everyday: in the spring, fall practices. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, you’re always going to get his best.”

It’s always really cool to get a glimpse into the mind of guy who’s been fortunate enough to play for a coach like Saban, and Drake does a fantastic job of going through what makes the long-time Alabama coach so effective at his job.

How could any up-and-coming recruit want to play for anybody but Nick Saban?

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Alabama football welcomes Tua Tagovailoa back to campus in sweet video

Tua Tagovailoa returned to campus Friday after having surgery on his hip for a season-ending injury.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to Tuscaloosa after having “successful” hip surgery Monday in Houston, following a season-ending injury in the Crimson Tide’s win over Mississippi State last Saturday. He is expected to make a full recovery, but it’s possible that was the last time fans will see him playing in an Alabama uniform.

Tagovailoa greeted his teammates Friday ahead of their team dinner and game against Western Carolina on Saturday in Week 13. And they were thrilled to see him, along with coach Nick Saban, who even posed for a selfie with the recovering quarterback.

The Crimson Tide’s Twitter account shared a touching video of Tagovailoa’s return and his teammates’ reactions Friday night.

More via 247Sports.com:

“It was really good last night,” Saban said Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. “He came to the team dinner. He’s always very positive. Great spirit. Really good to have him back. He wanted to come to the game today, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Via Tagovailoa’s Instagram account

The Crimson Tide also decorated Tagovailoa’s scooter to give it a personal touch. The junior quarterback has documented much of the support he’s received on his Instagram stories.

Via Tagovailoa’s Instagram account
Via Tagovailoa’s Instagram account

With Tagovailoa out for the season, sophomore quarterback Mac Jones is stepping up as the starter. Jones also filled in against Arkansas when Tagovailoa was recovering from an ankle injury earlier this season.

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USA TODAY releases SEC power rankings – where’s Georgia football?

USA TODAY has releases their weekly SEC power rankings ahead of week 13. See where Georgia football ranks among the rest of the SEC.

The buzz around college football has been that after the South Carolina loss, Georgia controls its own destiny… and control it they have.

The Dawgs remain at No. 4 in the rankings following a 21-14 win over Auburn, and secured a ticket to the SEC Championship game.

USA TODAY’s SEC power rankings have Georgia at the No. 2 spot, dropping Alabama to No. 3 and LSU taking the No. 1 spot.

On Georgia, Horka said:

“It surely wasn’t an offensive exhibition from the Bulldogs in their big win over Auburn, but a win is a win regardless. It’s looks likely that Georgia will meet LSU in the SEC Championship game, but it doesn’t look like the Dawgs will be able to go blow for blow with Burrow and company.”

Here is his top-six in the SEC:

  1. LSU (10-0, 6-0 SEC)
  2. Georgia (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
  3. Alabama (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
  4. Florida (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
  5. Auburn (7-3, 4-3 SEC)
  6. Texas A&M (7-3, 4-2 SEC)

Georgia has one more SEC opponent in its way before the SEC Championship.

Texas A&M seems like it should be a Georgia win this Saturday at 3:30 p.m., but the Dawgs need to make sure they don’t play down to the Aggies’ level.

This game has trap game written all over it and if we’ve learned anything this year, it’s don’t take any team lightly.

For the full rankings, click here.

Nick Saban shares emotional take on Tua Tagovailoa

Alabama coach Nick Saban gave his thoughts on Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury during his press conference on Monday.

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For whatever reason, some people choose to believe that Nick Saban doesn’t care about his players or their well-being. Despite constant examples to prove otherwise, it’s a perception that the Alabama coach struggles to shake.

Well, his press conference on Monday might have those people re-thinking that negative perception. When talking about injured starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Saban expressed how much it was affecting him:

If you are not able to listen to the video, here is a quick transcript for what was said by Saban:

“Look, we lost a great leader, a great player on our team, and we’re all hurting because of it. Just like anytime you lose somebody in your family, for whatever reasons, everybody in the family is hurting. And this is all about people, and this is all about the person.”

Saban went on to talk about the successful surgery that Tagovailoa underwent in Houston on Monday morning, but then he continued to discuss the star quarterback’s positive outlook:

“I feel bad, I’m hurting. But I call him [Tagovailoa] on Saturday night to cheer him up, and he cheers me up. I call him last night because I’ve been sitting in that room for 10 hours yesterday watching film; I call him to cheer him up, and he cheers me up.

This is a guy that has great spirit, he’s very positive with just about everything that he does, and the affect that he has on other people. I think he’s been a great ambassador for college football in terms of the class that he shows and the way he goes about what he does.”

Saban then finished up with his response by talking about how much Alabama will miss having Tagovailoa in the lineup, and how Tagovailoa’s focus remains on getting back to watch his teammates take on Western Carolina on Saturday.

Talk about being everything a coach could ever want in a player!

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Tua Tagovailoa has successful hip surgery

It was reported last night that Alabama’s star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, would be transported from Birmingham to Houston in order to undergo surgery on his hip. Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip as well as a posterior wall fracture, an injury …

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It was reported last night that Alabama’s star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, would be transported from Birmingham to Houston in order to undergo surgery on his hip.

Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip as well as a posterior wall fracture, an injury that will sit him out for the rest of the 2019 college football season and possibly more.

The University of Alabama released a statement from Dr. Lyle Cain, the doctor who performed the procedure, on Monday following Tagovailoa’s surgery.

As Dr. Cain said in the statement, Tagovailoa will spend the next few days in Houston before returning to Tuscaloosa to begin the rehabilitation process.

This has been an expedited process, as the injury took place Saturday afternoon and he is now already on his way to recovering.

Roll Tide Wire will post any and all updates on Tagovailoa’s recovery process, as well as any news surrounding this topic.

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Tua Tagovailoa flying to Houston to further treatment

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be airlifted to Houston in order to continue seeking treatment for his hip injury, which he sustained in the Crimson Tide’s game against Mississippi State. Tagovailoa’s hip injury, which has been diagnosed as …

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be airlifted to Houston in order to continue seeking treatment for his hip injury, which he sustained in the Crimson Tide’s game against Mississippi State.

Tagovailoa’s hip injury, which has been diagnosed as a dislocated hip with a posterior wall feature, is one of numerous injuries he has had to deal with while at Alabama.

However, this is the first one that will cost him a season, and likely a whole lot more.

Recovery time for an injury like this will be a while, and while many rule out a return to the collegiate level, it would not be a wild idea to believe he would.

“For the past 24 hours our medical team has consulted with multiple orthopedic experts across the country, who specialize in hip injuries and surgeries,” said team doctor Lyle Cain, “Based on that research, Tua is being flown to Houston tonight to be evaluated and is scheduled to have hip surgery Monday,” Cain said.

As ESPN reported, this is Tagovailoa’s second surgery of the season, the first one being the tight-rope surgery to repair a high ankle sprain he suffered during Tennessee.

This surgery on his hip will be more serious and come with a much longer recovery time.

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Alabama-Mississippi State: Post-game recap

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated SEC West rival, Mississippi State with a final score of 38 – 7 to advance their record to 9-1 on the season. With Tua Tagovailoa being carted off the field and taken away in an ambulance, Mac Jones stepped in and …

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated SEC West rival, Mississippi State with a final score of 38 – 7 to advance their record to 9-1 on the season.

With Tua Tagovailoa being carted off the field and taken away in an ambulance, Mac Jones stepped in and kept the offense alive, but didn’t live up to the hype left behind by Tagovailoa.

Jones completed 7 of 11 pass attempts for 94 yards and no touchdowns.

Overall, the offense didn’t add any notable stats in the second half without Tagovailoa.

The only points scored in the half was a 22-yard field goal from Joseph Bulovas.

The defense stayed strong throughout the entire game, only allowing a lone touchdown early in the first quarter.

Next week the Crimson Tide will welcome Western Carolina into Bryant Denny Stadium, a game that will mean more now that Nick Saban will have to readjust on both sides of the ball to account for injuries.

 

What we know about Tua Tagovailoa’s injury

Find out the latest details on the scary injury suffered by Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

One of college football’s best players, and one of the top prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa may have played his final down for the Crimson Tide.

Despite being ahead 35-7 late in the first half against Mississippi State on Saturday, Tagovailoa was still in the game for Alabama, and suffered a scary injury as two defenders landed on him after he tried to scramble out of the pocket and make a throw.

Bama’s star quarterback had to be carted off the field, and was reportedly screaming in pain:

Tide head coach Nick Saban said at halftime that Tagovailoa was supposed to come out after that series:

Tagovailoa was air-lifted to the hospital, per Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News:

Saban had little information to provide regarding Tagovailoa’s situation at his postgame press conference:

According to Aaron Suttles of The Athletic, Tagovailoa is indeed out for the season:

While many expected the injury to be an aggravation of the ankle injury Tagovailoa had surgery to repair last month, this injury ended up being a new injury to his hip.

The severity of this injury obviously has seismic implications for all involved, from Alabama’s hopes of making another playoff run, from Tagovailoa’s draft stock. Obviously, his long-term health is the most important thing right now, and hopefully he’s able to make a full recovery.

Currently jockeying with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow for the title of next year’s top quarterback prospect, Tagovailoa could face serious concerns about his injury history and durability when NFL teams are evaluating him this offseason.

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3 big questions following Tua Tagovailoa’s injury against Mississippi State

Get well soon, Tua.

Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field after taking a big hit in the second quarter against Mississippi State.

He had a bloody nose and was visibly in pain. He was unable to put any pressure on his right leg before being carted off by Alabama’s medical staff. ESPN’s Molly McGrath called it a right hip injury and said team doctors had to pick him up and carry him off the cart as he was screaming in pain.

None of that sounds good at all.

Alabama was up big, 35-7, after a monster first quarter from Tagovailoa where he completed 100 percent of his passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.

On the play he was injured he got caught scrambling out of the pocket by two Mississippi State defenders.

This situation is about to get super messy. It’s immediately the biggest story in college football and the NFL. A Heisman Trophy candidate and the potential number one pick might have a major injury. Questions are already flying.

Why was Tua in the game?

During his halftime interview, Nick Saban said the series their star quarterback got hurt on was going to be the last one he played. He was going to pull him the series before, but  Tagovailoa asked to remain in the game.

Hindsight is always 20/20, obviously. It’s tough to say Saban was wrong. But he definitely bears some responsibility here. Sometimes, you have to protect players from themselves in situation’s exactly like this. Tagovailoa had already had a monster game and the score was in hand. There’s no point in continuing there and Saban knows it, so sit him down.

What sort of injury is this?

If it’s something major that keeps him out for a year, not only does it keep Tagovailoa out for the rest of the college football season but it also puts his availability for the start of the next NFL season in mid-November.

That’s big. That could potential impact his draft status. There might not be a pro day or a combine or a chance to work out professionally for him. Instead, he might be rehabbing. He’ll still be able to interview, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the draft process.

He needs to take his time coming back, but the more time he takes, the more questions team executives will have. That’s not great for someone who could’ve been the No. 1 pick. Considering a return to Alabama might be in the cards because of this.

If he can play again, should he?

Let’s say he’s healthy enough to come back before the season’s end. As yourself, honestly, what’s the point?

Missing significant time completely knocks him out of the Heisman race. He’s already put enough on film to be considered a top 5 pick in the NFL draft. Alabama is currently ranked 5th and out of the College Football Playoff as things stand. There’s nothing left to play for.

Zion Williamson was faced with a similar situation at Duke last season when his shoe exploded and he chose to come back and play. That’s a fine decision. Didn’t end up amounting to anything, but it was what he wanted to do. We have to respect that.

Tagovailoa has more to consider. Football is a much more physically grueling sport and this is his second major injury this season. If you ask me, it’s time to sit down and get ready for the future. But he’s an athlete — that’s easy for me to say and hard for him to do.

It’s up to him ultimately. I just hope that whatever he chooses to do leads to a brighter, healthier future for him.

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