Nick Saban Pushing Players Physicality Through Early Part of Camp

The Alabama head coach is working out the most effective method to find consistent competitive spirit through the first days of fall camp.

Joe Gaither | Aug 12, 2023

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Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Crimson Tide wrapped up its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday capping off the first week in full pads for the program.

With the uncertainty at quarterback and hiring of new offensive coordinator Tommy Reese there's an unspoken expectation that the Alabama offense will return to a ground-and-pound, play-action passing offense of the early Nick Saban tenure.

Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker discussed the offensive line's goal to make opponents quit this upcoming season, so how much of that attitude is Saban seeing through the first week in pads.

"We've got some guys who play pretty physical. We've got some guys who need to get more physical. I kind of like what Pete Rose said the other night. Sparky Anderson he said was a great manager," said Saban on Saturday. "He asked him one time, what's the key to handling players? He says, you've got to know when to kick them in the ass, you've got to know when to pat them on the ass, and you've got to know when not to say anything. So we're trying to figure that out, but I think I've been kicking them in the ass a little bit more than I've been patting them in the ass so we'll just keep on keeping on."

The Crimson Tide still has three weeks until its first contest against the MTSU Blue Raiders, leaving plenty of time for Alabama to embody its attitude of old.

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