📡 Why Alabama LB has not been at last 2 practices

[Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com]

VanDarius Cowan hasn't been at the last two Alabama spring practices.
Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com
Why Alabama LB has not been at last 2 practices

Missing from the last two practices, VanDarius Cowan's absence was explained by Nick Saban on Tuesday night.

Without getting into specifics, Saban said there were academic issues in play.

"We check guys in terms of what they're supposed to do and we define the standard of expectations that we have for class attendance, tutors, study tables," Saban said. "And when guys do not do this to the standard that we've created for all the players here, they can't practice or play until they get it right.

The idea is to create the right kind of habits," Saban said.

"And when we have to take something away that's going to change his behavior, that's one of the ways we're going to do it," Saban said. "He is making good progress and hopefully he'll be back at practice soon."

Cowan's redshirt came off against Tennessee as a freshman. He also appeared in games with LSU, Mississippi State, Mercer, Auburn and the two playoff games. The season ended with two tackles with a quarterback hurry in the win over LSU.

Coming from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Cowan was one of the top outside linebackers in the country.

 

[Tidestalker]

Get your butt to class big guy! Too much talent on this roster to play those games

 

[EasyTider]

Red flag

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Red flag

Ed Zackery.............Nick will take a chance or two on guys and sometime he is able to make it work....sometime he doesn't

 

[TerryP]

In the last few years there was another player who was held out of some practices because he was behind in class work...can't recall whom.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

A player with talent (we believe) that is in a position group (Nick was unable to recruit ILB this cycle) that needs some backups to step forward and this player doesn't put forth the effort to perform in the classroom. We'll see but on the surface it doesn't bode well from the discipline side of the player.

“We can’t have two standards, one set for the dedicated young men who want to do something ambitious and one set for those who don’t.”...Coach Bryant

 

[bradenob]

A player with talent (we believe) that is in a position group (Nick was unable to recruit ILB this cycle) that needs some backups to step forward and this player doesn't put forth the effort to perform in the classroom. We'll see but on the surface it doesn't bode well from the discipline side of the player.

“We can’t have two standards, one set for the dedicated young men who want to do something ambitious and one set for those who don’t.”...Coach Bryant

I thought this guys was an OUTSIDE LB - but not a good sign. Nevertheless, young, needs more discipline than others, doesn't mean he won't do well (Namath had his problems as well).

 

[TUSKtimes]

Isn't this the youngster that was showing immaturity in one of his high school games and got kicked off his team for the rest of the year? I guess with Tony graduating we got to have someone to pick up the slack. Let's hope he has Brown's staying power.

 

[BamaFan334]

Isn't this the youngster that was showing immaturity in one of his high school games and got kicked off his team for the rest of the year? I guess with Tony graduating we got to have someone to pick up the slack. Let's hope he has Brown's staying power.

Yes, same guy. Butted heads with the head coach and got kicked off the team. Gah, great size. Would all go to waste if he doesn't get his head on straight. Physically reminded me of Rolando McLain, now he definitely is in more ways than one.