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CECIL HURT: The waves of Tide's players
Cecil Hurt | Sports Editor
Alabama quarterback Cooper Bateman (18) throws a pass against Kentucky during the second half on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
AP Photo/Butch Dill
Two University of Alabama football players spent the first half of the Crimson Tide's 34-6 win over Kentucky on Saturday night as sideline observers. Both did play in the second half, past the point of having any material effect on the outcome. The Wildcats played hard, but didn't have anything approaching the offensive power or the defensive depth to make a comeback. Still, both players deserve mention in a final look back before Alabama faces a stern road test at No. 16 Arkansas.
One was Tim Williams. The other was Cooper Bateman.
From the pregame, when he came out in uniform, it was apparent that Williams, who was arrested in the early hours of Thursday and charged with a misdemeanor pistol permit violation, was likely to see action. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the first-half benching that he served had as much to do with being out at 2 a.m. in a game week as it did with a misdemeanor that will likely go away if he gets the paperwork in order.
Of course, his presence on the field at all caused the usual muttering from those who (a.) don't especially care about Tim Williams and (b.) keep a running scorecard on suspensions as the be-all, end-all of "discipline" or "control." Saban does suspend players. Ask Shank Taylor. He doesn't suspend everyone, regardless of circumstances, based on an arrest. Ask Cam Robinson.
If anything, it appeared that the half-game suspension served at least one purpose - getting Williams' attention. He played with remarkable intensity when he did play, possibly indicating that missing the first two quarters did have the desired effect.
Before the inevitable reactions of "coddling" and "condoning" any actions, the fact is that every case is different - and some cases merit suspension, or dismissal. But others may be dealt with in a variety of effective matters. That's not just at Alabama, either. The starting fullback for Arkansas was arrested after the Razorback game last Saturday, but there's no reason to think Bret Bielema doesn't know the details and will handle the matter properly.
Back to Saturday night. It was well into the fourth quarter before Jalen Hurts' work was done and Bateman came in. By that time, many Alabama fans, some with a long drive home and others who'd enjoyed a full day of Homecoming festivities, had headed for the gates. That kept Bateman from getting the long, loud ovation that he deserved - if only as an example.
It's been a tough two years for Bateman in some ways. For two consecutive years, he's gone into September with good reason to think he might be the starting quarterback. In 2015, his sole start didn't go well. This year, he was mentioned as a possible starting candidate. Not by speculating media, but by Saban himself, just 48 hours before the opener against Southern Cal. Instead, he found himself relegated to the No. 3 spot - at least until Blake Barnett vacated the No. 2 spot.
This isn't a knock on Barnett, who has the right to follow his dreams even if they lead him to a California junior college for a few months. Bateman, though, has handled an even more frustrating ride on the quarterback roller coaster without (so far as we know) threatening to leave or complaining that he didn't get a fair shot. To all appearances, he's made decisions that put his team and teammates first. And in either his case, or in Williams' very different one, isn't that the outcome everyone is looking for?
TideSports.com - CECIL HURT: The waves of Tide's players
Cecil Hurt | Sports Editor
Alabama quarterback Cooper Bateman (18) throws a pass against Kentucky during the second half on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
AP Photo/Butch Dill
Two University of Alabama football players spent the first half of the Crimson Tide's 34-6 win over Kentucky on Saturday night as sideline observers. Both did play in the second half, past the point of having any material effect on the outcome. The Wildcats played hard, but didn't have anything approaching the offensive power or the defensive depth to make a comeback. Still, both players deserve mention in a final look back before Alabama faces a stern road test at No. 16 Arkansas.
One was Tim Williams. The other was Cooper Bateman.
From the pregame, when he came out in uniform, it was apparent that Williams, who was arrested in the early hours of Thursday and charged with a misdemeanor pistol permit violation, was likely to see action. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the first-half benching that he served had as much to do with being out at 2 a.m. in a game week as it did with a misdemeanor that will likely go away if he gets the paperwork in order.
Of course, his presence on the field at all caused the usual muttering from those who (a.) don't especially care about Tim Williams and (b.) keep a running scorecard on suspensions as the be-all, end-all of "discipline" or "control." Saban does suspend players. Ask Shank Taylor. He doesn't suspend everyone, regardless of circumstances, based on an arrest. Ask Cam Robinson.
If anything, it appeared that the half-game suspension served at least one purpose - getting Williams' attention. He played with remarkable intensity when he did play, possibly indicating that missing the first two quarters did have the desired effect.
Before the inevitable reactions of "coddling" and "condoning" any actions, the fact is that every case is different - and some cases merit suspension, or dismissal. But others may be dealt with in a variety of effective matters. That's not just at Alabama, either. The starting fullback for Arkansas was arrested after the Razorback game last Saturday, but there's no reason to think Bret Bielema doesn't know the details and will handle the matter properly.
Back to Saturday night. It was well into the fourth quarter before Jalen Hurts' work was done and Bateman came in. By that time, many Alabama fans, some with a long drive home and others who'd enjoyed a full day of Homecoming festivities, had headed for the gates. That kept Bateman from getting the long, loud ovation that he deserved - if only as an example.
It's been a tough two years for Bateman in some ways. For two consecutive years, he's gone into September with good reason to think he might be the starting quarterback. In 2015, his sole start didn't go well. This year, he was mentioned as a possible starting candidate. Not by speculating media, but by Saban himself, just 48 hours before the opener against Southern Cal. Instead, he found himself relegated to the No. 3 spot - at least until Blake Barnett vacated the No. 2 spot.
This isn't a knock on Barnett, who has the right to follow his dreams even if they lead him to a California junior college for a few months. Bateman, though, has handled an even more frustrating ride on the quarterback roller coaster without (so far as we know) threatening to leave or complaining that he didn't get a fair shot. To all appearances, he's made decisions that put his team and teammates first. And in either his case, or in Williams' very different one, isn't that the outcome everyone is looking for?
TideSports.com - CECIL HURT: The waves of Tide's players
