The Alabama Crimson Tide aren’t used to losing much. In fact, in head coach Nick Saban’s 16 years in Tuscaloosa, the team has lost just 27 games. That while winning 190 games, which include six national championships and eight SEC championships.
It’s not often that the Crimson Tide are out of the national championship race this early in the season. The the last time that happened was in 2010-11. But with two losses at Tennessee and LSU, reality is setting in around Tuscaloosa that this season won’t end in a trip to the College Football Playoffs, and that’s not sitting well with some of the program’s former players.
One of those former players is Greg McElroy, who was the signal-caller on the 2009 team, which happened to be Saban’s first title team in Tuscaloosa. During a recent episode of the ‘Always College Football’ podcast, McElroy was outspoken on what he thinks is ailing his former team.
“This is the first time that I have ever actually been concerned about the future of the program. I’ve seen everything that this program has endured in the last several years, and I have never been concerned about whether or not they’ve been better tomorrow than they were today.
“I’m not a hot-take artist. I’m not one that’s going to go into the whole, ‘Well, if this doesn’t work everyone should be fired.’ I try to be pragmatic; I try to be understanding, I try to be thoughtful. Right now, Alabama feels like it’s at a little bit of a crossroads.”
Greg McElroy explains why he is ‘concerned about the future’ of Alabama football https://t.co/drcmdzcqJE
— Alabama Crimson Tide (@RollTide) November 8, 2022
McElroy Believes Saban Is Closer To Retiring Than He’s Ever Been
Following Alabama’s second heartbreaking loss of the season to LSU on Saturday night, Saban looked as exasperated as ever when the gun went off in Tiger Stadium. The look was one of a GOAT who seems frustrated and lacking the fire and focus he once had.
On a recent episode of “McElroy and Cubelic,” Saban’s former QB says Saban might consider walking away sooner than later.
“I think NIL and the current world of college football will inevitably push him away,” McElroy said. “I think he’d coach until he’s 100 if it weren’t for NIL.
“I don’t think it’d be fair to speculate, but I would probably say closer than he’s ever been. It doesn’t mean he’s going to go this year. They still have a really good recruiting class coming in.”
Nick Saban understands NIL has changed College Sports FOREVER, but student-athletes making money through NIL should never be equated to them being BOUGHT like property. Schools and coaches have USED student-athletes to make billions. Now, it’s the student-athletes’ turn.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 19, 2022
Saban Fires Back At McElroy: Doesn’t Sound Like He’s Considering Retirement
In his Wednesday media session, Saban wasted no time responding to McElroy, and he stressed the importance of not overreacting and properly giving the two teams who beat them some credit for doing so.
Nick Saban heard Greg McElroy's comments earlier this week and responded Wednesday. https://t.co/oeO9wtWshF
— OutKick (@Outkick) November 9, 2022
“We lost two games by a total of four points, both on the last play of the game. Are there a lot of things we could do better? Are we satisfied with where we are as a team? Absolutely not.
“But at the same time, sometimes when the standard is so high, there may be some occasion where you don’t quite meet the standard and the expectation that everybody has for you.”
Saban and the Tide are just having a down season by their standards and this time next season they’ll be right back in the thick of the national title hunt.
Saban is stalking the sidelines. His former quarterback is just trying to get some attention.
