This drama (not drama drama but a little nonetheless) has been going on since Nov 2017.
I told you guys after the UTjr game Tua started to heat up and the pressure to play him was on, especially after he outshined Jalen during the bye week. The WRs were were going to Locksley and DaBoll about playing Tua, headed by Ridley. Locksley was the first coach to press the issue btw bc of his WRs.
Saban was not going for it but told DaBoll and Locksley if they came up with a solid plan that they could work him in but he wasn't budging taking out a QB he believed in and that hasn't lost a game. LSU game Hurts was solid and led the team. MsState game Hurts proved again he was the guy leading a 4th Quarter drive. Then you have the 'get on the bus' comment and interview. This is really where things heated up no one said it but kind of rubbed a few the wrong way (players and coaches)
Tua wasn't as solid versus Mercer, really giving Saban the reason to not play Tua. This is where Tua and co got frustrated.
Team (coaches and players) are not on the same page at this point. Then comes the Iron Bowl loss. Prob a reason as to why the offense is out of sync. When the playoffs come the talk of Tua playing was at an all time high. Many heated discussions. Unfortunately, this is where the Uber confident Hurts started to see people losing confidence in him. Media, teammates coaches etc in typical Alabama fashion after a loss to Auburn ala Bill Curry. Causing real damage to the psyche of a 19 year old. That's why he pressed so hard versus Auburn. Didn't want to make a mistake and get pulled. Pressure like no other being the QB of Alabama. No other QB in the Saban era has been a starter before 21.
Then the ultimate blow was being pulled in the NC game after willing the team more wins than any QB in Alabama history after 2 seasons as starter. Betrayal
Everyone on the team and media has written Jalen off so in comes Coach Hurts who wants to know has Saban written him off like everyone else. He wants to know the truth and Jalen needs to be told who's going to play because if not he can prove himself and every unreasonable Bama fan wrong elsewhere. Didn't put demands on coach but just want to know. Thought Jalen earned it with a solid spring but Coach Saban told him it wouldnt be fair to count Tua out just because of injury. Despite the spring game, Jalen was solid this spring. He and Mac did well. Coach Hurts wants to make sure Saban isn't stringing his kid along.
As of right now Jalen is staying and still starter, but it's out there in case teams want to contact him especially since Coach Hurts is a HS coach and they can't contact Jalen. Coach Hurts has had several reach out Big 12, ACC, and Big Ten just to gauge.
Probably very difficult for Saban to deal with he wants to stay loyal to a kid that did so much for the program accomplished so much but doesn't want to divide the team. The older guys and guys who played in 2016 have all of the faith in Jalen. The new guys not as much so. Jalen Hurts is on Pace to break every career passing and total offense record in Alabama history. He knows Jalen played better without having to look over his shoulder.
Saban doesn't know how Tua will be as a full time QB (pressure of being Alabama QB) and playing with something to lose but know what he has with Hurts knowing the job is his. Doesn't want the same thing to happen to Tua playing too early. Saban has never played a QB before their 3rd year.
I told you guys after the UTjr game Tua started to heat up and the pressure to play him was on, especially after he outshined Jalen during the bye week. The WRs were were going to Locksley and DaBoll about playing Tua, headed by Ridley. Locksley was the first coach to press the issue btw bc of his WRs.
Saban was not going for it but told DaBoll and Locksley if they came up with a solid plan that they could work him in but he wasn't budging taking out a QB he believed in and that hasn't lost a game. LSU game Hurts was solid and led the team. MsState game Hurts proved again he was the guy leading a 4th Quarter drive. Then you have the 'get on the bus' comment and interview. This is really where things heated up no one said it but kind of rubbed a few the wrong way (players and coaches)
Tua wasn't as solid versus Mercer, really giving Saban the reason to not play Tua. This is where Tua and co got frustrated.
Team (coaches and players) are not on the same page at this point. Then comes the Iron Bowl loss. Prob a reason as to why the offense is out of sync. When the playoffs come the talk of Tua playing was at an all time high. Many heated discussions. Unfortunately, this is where the Uber confident Hurts started to see people losing confidence in him. Media, teammates coaches etc in typical Alabama fashion after a loss to Auburn ala Bill Curry. Causing real damage to the psyche of a 19 year old. That's why he pressed so hard versus Auburn. Didn't want to make a mistake and get pulled. Pressure like no other being the QB of Alabama. No other QB in the Saban era has been a starter before 21.
Then the ultimate blow was being pulled in the NC game after willing the team more wins than any QB in Alabama history after 2 seasons as starter. Betrayal
Everyone on the team and media has written Jalen off so in comes Coach Hurts who wants to know has Saban written him off like everyone else. He wants to know the truth and Jalen needs to be told who's going to play because if not he can prove himself and every unreasonable Bama fan wrong elsewhere. Didn't put demands on coach but just want to know. Thought Jalen earned it with a solid spring but Coach Saban told him it wouldnt be fair to count Tua out just because of injury. Despite the spring game, Jalen was solid this spring. He and Mac did well. Coach Hurts wants to make sure Saban isn't stringing his kid along.
As of right now Jalen is staying and still starter, but it's out there in case teams want to contact him especially since Coach Hurts is a HS coach and they can't contact Jalen. Coach Hurts has had several reach out Big 12, ACC, and Big Ten just to gauge.
Probably very difficult for Saban to deal with he wants to stay loyal to a kid that did so much for the program accomplished so much but doesn't want to divide the team. The older guys and guys who played in 2016 have all of the faith in Jalen. The new guys not as much so. Jalen Hurts is on Pace to break every career passing and total offense record in Alabama history. He knows Jalen played better without having to look over his shoulder.
Saban doesn't know how Tua will be as a full time QB (pressure of being Alabama QB) and playing with something to lose but know what he has with Hurts knowing the job is his. Doesn't want the same thing to happen to Tua playing too early. Saban has never played a QB before their 3rd year.
