Nick Saban says Crimson Tide football players safer at Alabama than 'running around at home'

[crimsonaudio]

"I want to play, but I want to play for the players' sake, the value they can create for themselves," Saban told ESPN. "I know I'll be criticized no matter what I say, that I don't care about player safety. Look, players are a lot safer with us than they are running around at home. We have around a 2% positive ratio on our team since the Fourth of July. It's a lot higher than that in society. We act like these guys can't get this unless they play football. They can get it anywhere, whether they're in a bar or just hanging out."

With the 2020 college football season potentially hanging by a thread as the Big Ten and Pac-12 are reportedly close to canceling their seasons, Saban doesn't understand the rush to shut everything down right now.

"It's going to be a challenge when the other students get on campus, and I get that," Saban said. "But we really don't know what that entails until it happens. It's a big reason we pushed the season back [in the SEC], to assess that, which is the prudent way to do it."

Nick Saban says Crimson Tide football players safer at Alabama than 'running around at home'

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Going out on a limb here but if the season isn't played it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Saban hangs it up. The setback and financial fallout from not having a football season could sway him to "take it to the lake". Just my opinion.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Going out on a limb here but if the season isn't played it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Saban hangs it up. The setback and financial fallout from not having a football season could sway him to "take it to the lake". Just my opinion.

Nothing would surprise me at this point.

 

[CrimsonProf]

I know what Saban means - a lot of these guys need the structure. But no one has advocated sending them home, at least not campuses that are open. In fact, Ross Dellenger had a tweet stating that any plan would treat this like a spring or summer for players - class, workouts, etc.

 

[Relayer]

Very similar reasons to play stated in tweets yesterday by Trevor Lawrence.

 

[TiderJack]

Going out on a limb here but if the season isn't played it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Saban hangs it up. The setback and financial fallout from not having a football season could sway him to "take it to the lake". Just my opinion.

He is not even close to thinking about the lake. If he gets badly sick from the virus god forbid, then possibly yes but not due to a cancelled or delayed season IMO.

 

[colbysullivan]

 

[Bamabuzzard]

He is not even close to thinking about the lake. If he gets badly sick from the virus god forbid, then possibly yes but not due to a cancelled or delayed season IMO.

If the season is cancelled there WILL BE financial consequences that force financial changes for the following season or seasons after the cancelled season. You don't lose that much revenue then pick right back up the next season like nothing ever happened.

 

[Tidewater]

If the season is cancelled there WILL BE financial consequences that force financial changes for the following season or seasons after the cancelled season. You don't lose that much revenue then pick right back up the next season like nothing ever happened.

Yes, but not consequences for Coach Saban. Heck, he could waive his salary right now and not feel a thing.

 

[crimsonaudio]

If the season is cancelled there WILL BE financial consequences that force financial changes for the following season or seasons after the cancelled season. You don't lose that much revenue then pick right back up the next season like nothing ever happened.

Most likely that will mean dropping or suspending many other athletic programs that are, in essence, leaches off football.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Most likely that will mean dropping or suspending many other athletic programs that are, in essence, leaches off football.

Agreed. I'm not sure how Title IX would get axed.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Saban has enough of the fear of him in our fellas that I agree with him here. That's not true many places - it would be at Alabama.

 

[DogPatch]

I've seen how few students on campus are wearing masks and/or social distancing. I can't fathom them not being safer ANYWHERE else.

 

[81usaf92]

I've seen how few students on campus are wearing masks and/or social distancing. I can't fathom them not being safer ANYWHERE else.

The very fact that the NCAA and SEC haven’t really seriously considered implementing a bubble environment shows me that any attempt to have a season is doomed to fail. Even CNS can’t make 100% of his players to do the right thing 100% of the time.

 

[Titans&Tide]

I've seen how few students on campus are wearing masks and/or social distancing. I can't fathom them not being safer ANYWHERE else.

I've seen masks in use EVERYWHERE I go around Tuscaloosa. I've been to several restaurants and bars, obviously to Walmart/Target/Home Depot. Lots of places. The notion that masks aren't being worn where required wears a little thin on me. Obviously, they're not wearing them while walking around campus, because nobody is required to wear a mask when they're outside. But I've seen enough to know that the rules are, for the most part that I observe living here every single day, being followed.

 

[BamaNation]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1292925036815437825

 

[rgw]

I don’t doubt his numbers but I think we have to see how all that holds up with all the students back - more distractions and opportunities to break protocol - and once they start playing games.

If the games are not played, the AD needs to do something to keep the structure they’re use to receiving and help these guys “add value for themselves.”

 

[crimsonaudio]

Agreed. I'm not sure how Title IX would get axed.

With the way things have been going, I suspect Title IX's days are numbered.

 

[DogPatch]

Obviously, they're not wearing them while walking around campus, because nobody is required to wear a mask when they're outside.

They are if they are not maintaining 6' of social distance in groups of 10 or more, which is quite common.

Facial coverings for individuals. Effective July 16, 2020 at 5:00 P.M., each person shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times when within six feet of a person from another household in any of the following places: an indoor space open to the general public, a vehicle operated by a transportation service, or an outdoor public space where ten or more people are gathered.

 

[TiderJack]

If the season is cancelled there WILL BE financial consequences that force financial changes for the following season or seasons after the cancelled season. You don't lose that much revenue then pick right back up the next season like nothing ever happened.

I was not arguing that at all and I think the financial consequences are obvious. I was giving you my opinion that I don't think Saban goes to the lake if we don't have college football in 2020.