Nick Saban Gives Latest on Tua Tagovailoa, Calls Presidential Visit an 'Honor'

Alabama coach Nick Saban has had some interesting visits with U.S. presidents over the years

Alabama Athletics

University of Alabama coach Nick Saban had an interesting session on the weekly SEC teleconference with reporters on Wednesday morning. 

He didn't even wait for a question on the progress of junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, offering an update during his introductory remarks.

"He's practicing and doing OK in practice," he said. "It's still going to be a game-day decision or game-time decision as to whether he plays in the game or not."

Then came the Q&A part. Even though Alabama is facing No. 2 LSU on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CBS), he field many questions about the Tigers. 

Here were some of the highlights:

On being ranked No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings: 

"Look, I didn’t even look at the college football rankings. I don’t even know what we were ranked. It’s not going to matter if we don’t win the games that we play so we’re more focused on what we’ve got to do to try to be successful against the challenging teams that we have to play. We’ve talked about this before. We’re doing everything we can to try to improve the schedule that we have and we’re going to continue to do that."

On President Donald Trump planning to attend the game:

"It's an honor, I think, that the President of the United States would be interested enough to come to the game. I'm sure we'll do everything we can to welcome him."

LSU coach Ed Orgeron mentioned meeting you when the 2003 team visited the White House. What do you remember from that? 

'We’ve been to the White House several times and it’s always a very, very flattering, unique experience. I think if you’re in Bangkok, Thailand, and you said somebody told somebody you had the opportunity to go to the White House, they’d say, ‘That’s quite an honor.’ So we’ve always looked at that as quite an honor to go to the White House. I do remember meeting Ed. I don’t remember a lot about it, but I’ve always had a lot of respect for Ed and what he’s been able to accomplish now as a head coach and also when he was an assistant coach. We have a lot of respect for him as well.

Did you meet any presidents before you starting winning national championships?

"Uh, yeah. [President Bill Clinton] came to Michigan State to speak at the graduation commencement ceremony and they actually headquartered in our facility building, so I had an opportunity to meet him and talk to him."

Didn't he take nap in your office or something? 

"He didn't take it in my office. His secret service guys came and got my couch and asked if they could take it to his office so that he could take a nap. And I said, 'Certainly.'"

Richard Nixon famously attended a Texas-Arkansas game when they were ranked No. 1 and 2. Do you remember any of that?

"No, I saw that sort of they had some sort of highlight on ESPN about that or something, some kind of show about that. I don’t have any recollection of it. I had to be the guy that had to go out and turn the antenna for my Dad so he could watch whatever he wanted on TV, so I’m sure I was busy doing that. But I did see it on TV, and it was a pretty exciting game and pretty amazing experience, I’m sure, for both teams."

Earlier on the call, Orgeron was asked about President Trump attending the game. 

"If the President wants to come to a big game like this, it’s good," he said. "I just hope he sits right there in the middle and cheers for both sides."

Not even LSU? 

"Well, I think the President needs to be neutral," the coach responded. "If he wants to cheer for LSU, I’m going to welcome his cheers, but obviously, I don’t think the President should be cheering for either team. I think he should be right down the middle.”

Saban is scheduled to hold his last regular press conference of the week after practice Wednesday evening. BamaCentral will have full coverage.