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By Cecil Hurt The Tuscaloosa News
That sound you didnāt hear on Saturday was Alabamaās quarterback controversy.
Thatās gone now, after nine months of volcanic eruptions of analysis spewing hot gas into the atmosphere where it has, apparently, dissipated.
Tua Tagovailoa is the starting quarterback, as he should be. One can argue about the level of defensive talent that Alabama has faced, although the Crimson Tide has played one nationally-ranked team (Texas A&M) in its first five games and will have more down the road. One cannot argue Tagovailoa has not just met the crazy-high expectations he brought into the season. He has surpassed them.
As a result, Jalen Hurts has taken on a backup role. Heās handled it well. He may be in that position for the rest of the season, or Alabama may find itself in an emergency situation, the way Clemson did on Saturday. Heās won the praise of his head coach and of his teammates, much to the surprise of some people who had him ticketed out of Tuscaloosa all summer.
This isnāt a knock at the analysts and commentators out there. One could make a case for Hurtās transferring before the season, although not a very logical one since he is on track to graduate in December. You could make the case he should have redshirted, playing in just four games so he would get a second year at a different school. He did not write the new redshirt rule and was probably as surprised as anyone when it was put into effect. But it was a consideration after that.
Most of the play-four-and-sit arguments assumed an awful lot ā that Hurts would automatically start at his new destination, or that he would be better off with two years to prepare for an NFL career (which sometimes is not the case, as a glance around college football this year reveals.) Very few asked one particular question, though.
Is that what Hurts really was required by all logic to do? Or, and I know this is a crazy hypothesis but bear with me here, is he actually doing what he has wanted to do along? Is he living up to his stated intention since he signed a scholarship, which is play football ā not as a guaranteed starter but as a team member ā and get a degree? Did he hear the applause from what seems to be an appreciative fan base? Is it just barely, remotely possible he likes the school, likes his teammates, likes being a part of a team that has at least some possibility of winning another national championship? Is he happy with four years of college and not sure if he even wants a fifth?
Like all media members, I donāt know. I havenāt spoken to Hurts since a brief preseason Media Day appearance in a sweltering Bryant-Denny Stadium nearly two months ago. I havenāt spoken to anyone in his family. Iām not a spokesman or a confidant or a psychiatrist. But judging from what Nick Saban has said, and from Hurtsā on-the-field demeanor so far, is it that far-fetched to assume he is doing exactly what he wants to do?
Again, thatās just speculation. Like all of it. But it didnāt seem that far-fetched on Saturday. Only more quiet.
https://www.tidesports.com/cecil-hu...rts-all-the-wrong-questions-were-being-asked/
Thatās gone now, after nine months of volcanic eruptions of analysis spewing hot gas into the atmosphere where it has, apparently, dissipated.
Tua Tagovailoa is the starting quarterback, as he should be. One can argue about the level of defensive talent that Alabama has faced, although the Crimson Tide has played one nationally-ranked team (Texas A&M) in its first five games and will have more down the road. One cannot argue Tagovailoa has not just met the crazy-high expectations he brought into the season. He has surpassed them.
As a result, Jalen Hurts has taken on a backup role. Heās handled it well. He may be in that position for the rest of the season, or Alabama may find itself in an emergency situation, the way Clemson did on Saturday. Heās won the praise of his head coach and of his teammates, much to the surprise of some people who had him ticketed out of Tuscaloosa all summer.
This isnāt a knock at the analysts and commentators out there. One could make a case for Hurtās transferring before the season, although not a very logical one since he is on track to graduate in December. You could make the case he should have redshirted, playing in just four games so he would get a second year at a different school. He did not write the new redshirt rule and was probably as surprised as anyone when it was put into effect. But it was a consideration after that.
Most of the play-four-and-sit arguments assumed an awful lot ā that Hurts would automatically start at his new destination, or that he would be better off with two years to prepare for an NFL career (which sometimes is not the case, as a glance around college football this year reveals.) Very few asked one particular question, though.
Is that what Hurts really was required by all logic to do? Or, and I know this is a crazy hypothesis but bear with me here, is he actually doing what he has wanted to do along? Is he living up to his stated intention since he signed a scholarship, which is play football ā not as a guaranteed starter but as a team member ā and get a degree? Did he hear the applause from what seems to be an appreciative fan base? Is it just barely, remotely possible he likes the school, likes his teammates, likes being a part of a team that has at least some possibility of winning another national championship? Is he happy with four years of college and not sure if he even wants a fifth?
Like all media members, I donāt know. I havenāt spoken to Hurts since a brief preseason Media Day appearance in a sweltering Bryant-Denny Stadium nearly two months ago. I havenāt spoken to anyone in his family. Iām not a spokesman or a confidant or a psychiatrist. But judging from what Nick Saban has said, and from Hurtsā on-the-field demeanor so far, is it that far-fetched to assume he is doing exactly what he wants to do?
Again, thatās just speculation. Like all of it. But it didnāt seem that far-fetched on Saturday. Only more quiet.
https://www.tidesports.com/cecil-hu...rts-all-the-wrong-questions-were-being-asked/
