Nick Saban made some news this past week by not offering a ton of actual news, other than to say that both of his quarterbacks will compete this spring for the chance to win the starting job. But the Alabama coachās conversation with ESPN did mention Jalen Hurts, which presents a timely opportunity to again tip the cap to the Crimson Tide signal caller, after everything else that has transpired with that program since the calendar turned to 2018.
You may remember that Hurts got benched at halftime of the national title game for Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Tide past Georgia in overtime. And you may remember that many ā understandably so ā fell prisoner to the moment in praising Saban and his true freshman savior.
But lost amid the chaos and confetti was one of the bystanders of that comeback, who took what could have been a humiliating moment and, instead of sulking, has since been everything we have ever asked of our favorite athletes.
Hurts weathered three offensive coordinators in two years to go 26-2 as a starter in college, leading the Tide to national title games in each of his first two seasons. He was named the SEC offensive player of the year his first season, and he threw 17 touchdowns to just one interception his second season. If anyone had earned the right to keep his job, or to be outraged by the idea of losing it on the gameās biggest stage, it was this guy.
And when that exact unfathomable scenario happened, Hurts did the opposite of what could be expected: He was Tagovailoaās biggest supporter on the sideline.
He was as happy as anyone on the roster throughout the postgame celebration and interviews.
In the nearly two months since, he has been even more impressive: He has spoken to church groups and to middle-schoolers. He attended Tim Tebowās āNight to Shineā prom event for kids with special needs. On Saturday, he and teammates worked with Nickās Kids Foundation and Habitat for Humanity to build a handicap-accessible house for Donna Smith, whose 19-year-old son, Andrew, is in a wheelchair. Hurts had met Andrew at the Night to Shine event last month.
And he even did the unthinkable. No, not cutting his dreads. He got Saban to laugh by ribbing him, telling his coach that he was āsoft as a babyās assā during the Habitat project.
Hurts will battle Tagovailoa this spring. Perhaps he will also have to battle East Carolina graduate transfer Gardner Minshew come summer. Maybe Hurts wins back the job. Maybe, given that he had enrolled early, he becomes a graduate transfer himself after the 2018 season. (With, perhaps, another ring to his name.)
PROPS TO THE TEAM-FIRST CULTURE CREATED BY SABAN (emphasis mine), which has allowed a player like Hurts to blossom after what could have been his most difficult moment. And, most of all, props to Hurts, who has not only survived but thrived through a scenario that we have all seen ruin lesser quarterbacks.
"I told him, 'We would have never gotten here without you, and even though it wasn't your time (in the championship game) and we needed Tua to give us a spark, that should not be anything but a learning experience for you in terms of what you have to do to be a more consistent player in the future,'" Saban told ESPN of his conversation with Hurts.
As far as the offseason goes, Hurts is already passing with flying colors.
You may remember that Hurts got benched at halftime of the national title game for Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Tide past Georgia in overtime. And you may remember that many ā understandably so ā fell prisoner to the moment in praising Saban and his true freshman savior.
But lost amid the chaos and confetti was one of the bystanders of that comeback, who took what could have been a humiliating moment and, instead of sulking, has since been everything we have ever asked of our favorite athletes.
Hurts weathered three offensive coordinators in two years to go 26-2 as a starter in college, leading the Tide to national title games in each of his first two seasons. He was named the SEC offensive player of the year his first season, and he threw 17 touchdowns to just one interception his second season. If anyone had earned the right to keep his job, or to be outraged by the idea of losing it on the gameās biggest stage, it was this guy.
And when that exact unfathomable scenario happened, Hurts did the opposite of what could be expected: He was Tagovailoaās biggest supporter on the sideline.
He was as happy as anyone on the roster throughout the postgame celebration and interviews.
In the nearly two months since, he has been even more impressive: He has spoken to church groups and to middle-schoolers. He attended Tim Tebowās āNight to Shineā prom event for kids with special needs. On Saturday, he and teammates worked with Nickās Kids Foundation and Habitat for Humanity to build a handicap-accessible house for Donna Smith, whose 19-year-old son, Andrew, is in a wheelchair. Hurts had met Andrew at the Night to Shine event last month.
And he even did the unthinkable. No, not cutting his dreads. He got Saban to laugh by ribbing him, telling his coach that he was āsoft as a babyās assā during the Habitat project.
Hurts will battle Tagovailoa this spring. Perhaps he will also have to battle East Carolina graduate transfer Gardner Minshew come summer. Maybe Hurts wins back the job. Maybe, given that he had enrolled early, he becomes a graduate transfer himself after the 2018 season. (With, perhaps, another ring to his name.)
PROPS TO THE TEAM-FIRST CULTURE CREATED BY SABAN (emphasis mine), which has allowed a player like Hurts to blossom after what could have been his most difficult moment. And, most of all, props to Hurts, who has not only survived but thrived through a scenario that we have all seen ruin lesser quarterbacks.
"I told him, 'We would have never gotten here without you, and even though it wasn't your time (in the championship game) and we needed Tua to give us a spark, that should not be anything but a learning experience for you in terms of what you have to do to be a more consistent player in the future,'" Saban told ESPN of his conversation with Hurts.
As far as the offseason goes, Hurts is already passing with flying colors.
