[Tuck4Bama]

<H1 class=red>Tide helps Taylor find new home

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Friday, July 13, 2007 By PAUL GATTIS

Times Sports Staff paul.gattis@htimes.com
Alabama is helping transferring tailback Jamar Taylor find a new school, coach Nick Saban said Thursday during an appearance in Huntsville.
Also, the Crimson Tide will have retired Southeastern Conference supervisor of officials Bobby Gaston serving this season as a consultant.
Saban addressed state high school football coaches for more than an hour at Von Braun Center's South Hall on Thursday afternoon. The event was part of the coaches clinics at the state All-Stars Sports Week.




While Taylor's departure has been expected, Saban on Thursday confirmed the transfer as final for the Lakeland, Fla., native.
"We mutually agreed," Saban said. "I had a meeting with him and his mother. He had been struggling a little bit because of his personal situation at home with his mother and all that kind of stuff.
"We all agreed in this case it might be better for him to get a little closer to home and go to school. So we actually tried to help him have an opportunity to do that rather than just quit school."
Taylor, who graduated early from Lakeland High and enrolled at Alabama in January, emerged as an unexpected surprise during spring practice. He regularly drew praise from teammates as well as Saban as one of the Tide's top running backs.
But Saban said last month that Taylor was pondering a return home and said that Alabama would work toward Taylor's best interests.
The St. Petersburg Times reported Thursday that Taylor visited South Florida on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of transferring to the Bulls. It's possible that Taylor could team in the same backfield with former Alabama signee Mike Ford, who failed to qualify academically with the Tide.
Gaston will help with Alabama's preseason preparation from a rules standpoint. He retired in April 2006 after serving 18 years as the SEC's supervisor of officials. Gaston will not be a full-time UA employee, serving instead as one of several football consultants.
"We're just looking for ways for our players to have a chance to be more successful," Saban said. "And I think understanding the rules is one of those things."
Saban was accompanied to Huntsville by a familiar face to Tide fans. Former receiver Antonio "A.C." Carter, who caught 106 passes during his Tide career, joined Saban's staff as a graduate assistant about a month ago. Carter had been serving in a similar role under former Tide coach Mike Price at Texas-El Paso.
Other members of Saban's staff at the clinic included director of player personnel Geoff Collins and director of player development Willie Carl Martin.
Alabama opens practice on Aug. 3

[Stoney]

Before the season is over Taylor will regret his decision.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Stoney

Before the season is over Taylor will regret his decision.

I can't blame him for leaving due to family concerns.

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

I can't blame him for leaving due to family concerns.

I'm not assigning blame, I just think before the season is over he will wish he was playing at Alabama.