Alabama Crimson Tide News

We live in an age of zero accountability. Made a mistake? Blame someone else? Coping with difficult times? Point the finger elsewhere. Need a villain? Ah, that mean old media.

Nick Saban should know better. His multiple national titles and steamroller program practically make him immune from criticism. But they don’t make him immune from questions, and he could, you know, answer them.

The Associated Press’ No. 1 pick in the country for a third straight year (which has happened only once before), Alabama has two problems. It has lost a pair of starting outside linebackers to injury and Saban has not named a starting quarterback as he continues to weigh Jalen Hurts against Tua Tagovailoa, who engineered the second-half comeback in the BCS national championship victory over Clemson.

The linebacker problem? Saban had the perfect answer on Saturday when asked about the team’s depth and his concerns: “You think whatever happens we just (poop) out another player, and everything’s going to be perfect.”

Bad media. Bad, bad media.

Nick, it was a question. Just answer it. You’re the one with the five-star recruiting classes. Who’s the next man up?

The quarterback issue? Back at SEC media days, Saban offered this to a question burning ever since the title game in January: “The No. 1 thing you’d like to talk about is the quarterback controversy you love to create and continue to create, you love to talk about. It’s still to be determined,” Saban said. “You can ask all the questions you want. I’m going to say, ‘We’ll see.’”

The quarterback controversy you love to create? Hey, I’ll name the starter if you can’t. You’ve left Hurts hanging, but is that your fault? Nooooo.

These are questions, not daggers. The media – whatever that means, exactly – will not pick the quarterback. It will focus on the position because everyone else does, until there’s a resolution.

No one can argue with the machine Saban has built at Alabama. And, after dealing with him for as long as most reporters have, no one expects a friendly slap on the back and a cheery “how ya doing?”

They don’t, however, deserve a slap in the face. They’re asking the questions the fans want answered. They talk about what the public is talking about. And none of it involves the apocalypse.

The relationship between reporters and the folks they cover is by nature adversarial. That doesn’t mean it must be nasty or personal. And no reporter covering Alabama will win a duel with Saban, because he has won games and titles and will likely continue to do.

It wouldn’t cost him a thing to show a little courtesy. He’s the one with the answers. Even if he doesn’t want to share them, there’s no reason to stoke the fire. You want to teach and coach young men? They are taking their cue from you.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman