There’s a difference – a subtle one, perhaps, but still a difference – between coaches teaching football and coaches getting a team prepared for a football game.
Spring training and the first week of August practice have been about teaching.
University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban made the distinction last Thursday and he reiterated it after the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage on Saturday afternoon. Up to this point, the coaches have been trying to give the Alabama players the tools they will need to succeed. Now, for the next three weeks, it will be time for the coaches to decide how the players are using those tools, and which ones will be ready to use them in the first game.
“Up until this point, we’ve basically been in work groups,” Saban said. “We were in work groups today. After this scrimmage, we have to start giving guys a role. We’ve got to find where they can help.”
Saban was more specific than usual in talking about the impact that the Crimson Tide’s freshman class could have. He even gave an estimate on the number of freshmen who might contribute, saying he saw “eight to 10” freshmen who fit in that category. He cited a few by name, something he hasn’t always done in the past. Among those mentioned were safety Mark Barron, linebacker Donta Hightower and “Julio,” the freshman wide receiver whose last name (Jones) is superfluous, like Elvis or Madonna. Terrence Cody isn’t technically a freshman, having come from junior college, but he is a newcomer. He was mentioned in glowing terms as well.
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08-13-2008, 10:45 PM
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