via Reuters
Sep 24, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) leaves the field after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 55-3. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports | Reuters
via Reuters
Sep 24, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) leaves the field after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 55-3. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports | Reuters
Nick Saban is a football mastermind. The Alabama head coach has been at the helm of many prestigious organizations. However, the Crimson Tide made Saban a legend. Saturday night saw Alabama losing to rivals LSU. Both Saban and Alabama fans expressed their discontent.
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Alabama’s loss to LSU seriously threatens the Tide’s chances of making the NCAA College football championship playoff this year. Alabama has won the championship six times since Saban took over in 2007. And fans feel changes are necessary after the disappointing result on Saturday.
LSU beats Alabama in an overtime thriller
The LSU Tigers clinched a nerve-wracking 32-31 victory in overtime over the Crimson Tide on Saturday night college football. Alabama and LSU are both currently 7-2 and Alabama’s playoff chances look thin.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young made some unbelievable plays in the game. However, the Tides turned over the ball in crucial moments, ultimately leading to the game-winning touchdown by LSU tight end Mason Taylor. Nick Saban has won 6 championships with Alabama since coming over from the Miami Dolphins in 2007. That’s why the Tides fans were shocked after the OT loss.
At this point it is clear Nick Saban is no longer fit to lead the Alabama program.
He needs to resign and go to Virginia Tech to prove he can be a quality football coach again.
— Deablo fan account (@DeferredWalkOn) November 6, 2022
Brian Kelly left Notre Dame to get the talent to beat Nick Saban & just does it in year one.
— Mintzy (@BarstoolMintzy) November 6, 2022
Nick Saban spoke in the post-match press conference and owned up to their mistakes. “Had way too many penalties, especially penalties that contributed to their ability to drive the ball towards the end of the game,” Saban said. Alabama had a total of 9 penalties covering a 92 yards loss. Fans absolutely ripped into Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding, Alabama’s offensive and defensive coordinators.
Nick Saban has allowed Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding to remove the edge that Alabama once had.
— Stacey Blackwood (@Blackwood89) November 6, 2022
If Saban don’t get rid of these two clowns 🤡 this season the he needs to go with them. I said what I said. pic.twitter.com/GF45XWoOnU
— EnergizedSparky 🥋 (@CrimsonPatriot) November 6, 2022
Not meant to be this year. Serious lack of fire in this squad and that is 100% on Saban, BOB, and Golding. The standard that once made Alabama great, is no longer the standard. They’ve allowed Georgia to become what we used to be. Sad times.
— Ricky L. Green (@Alabama_FN) November 6, 2022
if Bill O’Brien has a million haters i am one of them. if Bill has ten haters i am one of them. if Bill only has one hater I am it. if Bill has no haters, that means he was left at the airport and Saban found someone with better play calling or I am no longer on this Earth
— You’re Killin’ Me Smalls (@SmallYetTall) November 5, 2022
This fan really doesn’t care for Bill O’Brien. Alabama has to run the ball more according to head coach Nick Saban. Saban himself took a pretty nasty hit during the game but was up and about in no time.
Nick Saban took a hard fall after Kool-Aid McKinstry ran into him on the sideline. He got right up like a champ though 💯
"They don't make em like they used to." ~ Nick Saban pic.twitter.com/M9myEhGsV8
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) November 5, 2022
Saban is known to get up and turn things around. Nick has done it before. However, it’s not going to be easy for Alabama.
Alabama and Nick Saban have a daunting task ahead
With current Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Julio Jones and the 2008 Crimson Tide group, Nick Saban turned the Alabama Football program around. The head coach reinstated his faith in his players for playoff football this year and said, “I think this team is very capable.” However, some fans disagreed.
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This Alabama team is soft. This Alabama team is undisciplined. This Alabama team lacks accountability. That is a direct reflection of the Alabama coaching staff, including Nick Saban. Doesn’t mean this game or season is over, they just have a lot to prove in very little time.
— Stacey Blackwood (@Blackwood89) November 6, 2022
Nick Saban, who is an old friend of New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick, was also the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in the 90s. And Saban felt Alabama’s first-half defense was way stronger than the second-half and attributes this to be the main reason behind the loss. LSU scored 18 points in the second half compared to only 6 in the first half.
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With the lack of an NFL team in the vicinity, College football is pro football in Alabama. And the fans bleed crimson. To be in the playoffs, The Tides need to win their next three games to reach 10-2. Additionally, they also need LSU to lose their final two SEC games. Nick Saban and Alabama face the 8-1 Mississippi’s Ole Miss Rebels next Sunday.
