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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – He’s the world’s most overqualified hype man now, and Nick Saban fulfilled his role by warming up the crowd.
As Saban told Alabama faithful assembled Saturday before A-Day, he’s “one of the fans now.”
“I’m one of you,” Saban said during a pregame captain’s ceremony.
Really, though, he’s not. Saban no longer coaches Alabama, but that doesn’t equate him to the 72,358 fans who attended coach Kalen DeBoer’s first A-Day on a warm day at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
He’s the GOAT. The now-retired GOAT. Alabama fans gave Saban a hero’s welcome while he performed ambassador and dignitary duties before kickoff.
Saban didn’t monopolize the fanfare.
Fans lined up several rows deep for the pregame Walk of Champions. Children perched on adults’ shoulders to get their first peek at DeBoer’s team. DeBoer waited outside the stadium to greet his players.
Then the game began, and Saban watched from a press box booth while DeBoer’s first A-Day ushered in a flurry offense, deep passes and long runs.
Welcome to the new era of Alabama football.
“This was a special day,” DeBoer said.
If Saturday is a fair indicator, DeBoer will invigorate Alabama’s offense. A word of caution: Spring games aren’t often a fair indicator. Nonetheless, I came away impressed by Jalen Milroe’s deep completions to transfer Germie Bernard and the gaping holes the first-string offensive line repeatedly opened for running backs.
Within his first nine plays, Milroe had led two 75-yard touchdown drives.
What a contrast from last year’s A-Day, when Milroe and backup quarterback Ty Simpson threw interceptions on consecutive plays, and the O-line got worked over.
Milroe and Simpson each fared fine Saturday, and Alabama’s starting quarterback exited spring practice praising his new coach.
“The coaching staff is really…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-saban-hypes-crowd-jalen-233614459.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-04-13 23:36:14
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