Former University of Washington head football coach Steve Sarkisian (2009-13), fired as USC’s head man in October after an embarrassing public display of intoxication, is joining Alabama’s staff as a special offensive assistant, according to head coach Nick Saban.
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Alabama allowed USC to score a field goal on its opening drive and sputtered on offense in the first quarter before settling down for the blowout win.
“The best example I can give is one of my own”, Saban said. “Just turn your head and keep on walkin'”.
Compliments aside, WKU is and will remain a clear underdog heading into this game, though there has been a little more buildup to this one that you might traditionally see for a team of Alabama’s caliber. After the fumble, Hurts’ teammates were ready to encourage him on the sideline, impressed that he could move past it quickly. Barnett finished the night 5 of 6 for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Saban said, “When you start playing games _ people don’t realize this, I don’t care what position you play, what team that you play on, what unit you play on _ people really study what you do”. “And I know that I’m preaching to the choir here (to reporters) when it comes to what you guys create and what you think”. Tosh Lupoi had the cloud of an NCAA investigation over his head when Saban hired him as an analyst; now he’s Alabama’s linebackers coach and one of its best recruiters. It’s all at once prestigious and demands competency and mistake elimination above any form of real excellence. Finally, Watson hit former walk-on receiver Hunter Renfrow in the back of the end zone on third and goal from the 16 with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter.
Saban added that he would not speculate on the quarterback plan for this week’s home opener against Western Kentucky.
“Shank (Taylor) was suspended for this game, even though we brought him on the trip”, Saban said after the game.
Brohm said Saban’s defense against his possession passing attack won’t be a mystery.
If we’re lucky, the drama and suspense of the 2016 season will make it past Labor Day. And everybody here wanted to know who the quarterback was going to be, all right?
Hurts replaced Barnett after Alabama started the game with consecutive three-and-out series. Hurts made good decisions. And while Kiffin became an easy target for rival fans, he completely re-invented his career in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa.
A 39-yard touchdown strike from Hurts to ArDarius Stewart midway through the second quarter put Alabama on the board and also opened the floodgates.
“The players, the fans, this kind of game is what they look forward to”, Brohm said.
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USC enters the game as double-digit underdogs (-11). He trusts the organization he’s set up at Alabama, which is as robust and as clearly defined a structure as you’ll find in college football. He also offered Alabama something more: a level of running ability we’ve never seen from an Alabama offense under Nick Saban.
