There's a Reason Why Nick Saban Will be Smiling as Alabama Opens Fall Camp

All Things CW: Those who are writing off Alabama and Saban as title contenders have been ignoring some important factors in the Crimson Tide's favor.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It seems a little ironic that the day the University of Alabama football team reports for fall camp is the only one that we can call predictable for the near future. 

Wednesday, of course, is the annual Nick's Kids Foundation luncheon inside the North Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Nick Saban and his wife Terry will talk some about the person it's named for, his father, the coach will call it one of his favorite days of the year, and then he'll pose for keepsake photos with everyone in attendance (especially the children). 

Saban's a creature of habit, and this is how he likes to mark the transition into the fall every year with a reminder of the importance of giving back and having a sense of community. Those who scoff have never seen the look on the kids' faces at this event, which as a whole rose to another level a decade ago following the tornados that tore up the city of Tuscaloosa and the state. 

Why do you think the coach did the Aflac ads with the duck? Charitable donations dropped during the pandemic and it was either find new revenue sources or back off some of the projects that have made a big difference in so many people's lives. 

Few will notice, though, or at least not enough, because another season of Alabama football is at hand, following a long offseason of questions, doubts and second-guessing. Some of that is normal, of course, because the program isn't coming off a national title and Crimson Tide fans truly aren't happy unless they have something to worry about. 

But this year there's been a lot, and not just with football. Alabama's taken a pounding from national media in regards to other sports, from a basketball player involved in a shooting to the gambling scandal with the now-former baseball coach. This was on top of missing out on the College Football Playoff. 

So the doom-and-gloom that's been preached for months has settled in a little more than usual, and the discussion points have been numerous. Most of the talk has centered on three things, though: 

1) Has Saban started to lose his edge? He is 71 after all.

Let's see here: The President of the United States is 80, the person he defeated who is running again is 77, the Senate Minority Leader is 81 and the previous Speaker of the House is 83.

And people are worried that Saban might be slowing down because he lost a game in overtime at LSU? 

What's different is the college football landscape, that the transfer portal, coupled with NIL, has made it easier for some of the other schools to retool faster. Plus there are some really good coaches in the Southeastern Conference who only get tougher to beat when playing before roughly 100,000 rabid fans, and a year from now it'll only get tougher with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas. 

What did Alabama finish in the recruiting rankings with the Class of 2023? No. 1. Coaches who are slowing down don't win recruiting titles. 

2) Who's going to be at quarterback? 

If I've been asked about it non-stop for the past six months, you know it's been pull-your-hair bad for everyone associated with the team. No one liked my response that the job can't be won until the team begins practicing, but that's the way it's been for every other quarterback competition under Saban. To me the important question isn't who's going to be the starter for the season opener, but who will have the job in November? 

Regardless, that ties into the other issue being discussed ...

3) The buzz isn't about 'Bama

Most of the preseason top 25 projections have the Crimson Tide around No. 4, which is probably music to Saban's ears because it's not every day he can play the disrespect card with his players. 

Only nine times since 1992 (31 years) has the predicted champion prior to the season at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship Game. The last time Alabama wasn't the pick, 2015, it won both the SEC and national championship.

Overall, though, a huge reason why the hype factor has been toned is that no one really knows what to think about this team yet. 

Consider the All-SEC team voting at media days as an example. Alabama had six players land first-team honors, but only three were position players. Tackle JC Latham, linebacker Dallas Turner, and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry were no-brain selections.

Here's how that compares with the previous five years:  

2022 (5): Emil Ekiyor Jr., Will Anderson Jr., Henry To'oTo'o, McKinstry, Jordan Battle

2021 (8): John Metchie III, Evan Neal, Phidarian Mathis, To'o To'o, Christian Harris, Anderson, Josh Jobe, Malachi Moore

2020 (8): Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Alex Leatherwood, Landon Dickerson, LaBryan Ray, Dylan Moses, Patrick Surtain II

2019 (10): Tua Tagovailoa, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills Jr., Raekwon Davis, Moses, Anfernee Jennings, Trevon Diggs

2018 (7): Damien Harris, Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Davis, Jennings, Mack Wilson, Deionte Thompson

Does anyone really think that Alabama has dropped off that much, that quickly? Of course not. But no one can really begin to speculate about, say, the offensive potential when there's a new coordinator, they don't know who will be at quarterback or left tackle, or how the playmakers may be utilized.

Defensively, there's also a new coordinator, albeit a person who was with the Crimson Tide before, and numerous roles that have to be determined. Can Alabama get back to the light's-out style of play that it used to be known for? Of course, even if we don't know things like who the every-down interior linebackers will be.  

With that in mind, here are two bonafide reasons for optimism about the 2023 Crimson Tide that I haven't heard mentioned enough throughout the offseason. First, the offensive line has the potential to be absolutely outstanding. That's where it always begins and almost no one is talking about this group for some reason. 

Second, don't focus on the things you don't know in regards to the top of the depth chart. Look at the back end. How many teams would give anything to have Alabama's fifth running back, 12th wide receiver, 14th defensive lineman, or one of the numerous highly-rated pass rushers — a position Saban has stocked better than anyone else in college football of late. 

Consequently, the coach won't just be smiling because he's at a feel-good event on the eve of the team's first fall practice. He knows that Alabama is about to hold its most competitive fall camp since he's been here.

 Christopher Walsh's column regularly appears on BamaCentral. 

SEE ALSO: Alabama's Best Position Groups: Just a Minute