That is an opinion column.
It’s weekly mailbag time and this one hits laborious after Alabama’s disturbing 28-7 loss to Georgia within the SEC championship.
The Tide is fortunate to be within the playoffs, and followers are questioning what occurred to the Alabama workforce that took down Vanderbilt and Georgia in the course of the common season. Why is Alabama regressing late within the season once more with coach Kalen DeBoer? What occurred to the “Bama commonplace?” And, most significantly, the place is Jalen Hurts whenever you want him?
Bravely, we wade into darkish waters …
Mike in Wetumpka writes …
At 10-3, the Tide doesn’t should be “within the hunt” this 12 months as they failed miserably to say themselves as one of many 12 greatest groups in faculty soccer!
This season is the second-consecutive season we now have seen this program regress significantly on the finish. I don’t assume it’s cheap and rational to disclaim a sample is creating with this program. I’m assured, based mostly on current performances, that the first-round debacle and failure will show to be yet one more sub-par effort and one other embarrassing show for we Bama followers to endure.
I agree with coach Kalen DeBoer when he states, “It’s going to be a bodily recreation and laborious fought.” Therein, I feel, lies the Tide’s main obstacles and highway blocks — inadequate motivation, preparation, enthusiasm and need!
Skydog in Goodyear, Ariz., writes …
So assist me with this: I wrote to you earlier than the SEC championship and mentioned how Kalen DeBoer would possibly want to change quarterbacks if Ty Simpson wasn’t good. He wasn’t. Nick Saban did it twice with Jalen Hurts, and we received each video games. Any thought why DeBoer didn’t no less than strive?
Bart Man writes …
That recreation was in all probability the worst I’ve ever seen carried out by an Alabama soccer workforce.
I needed to have a few stiff drinks this Saturday to numb the ache of what I had simply watched. What has occurred to Alabama soccer since Saban retired? I’ve been a life-long Bama fan and bear in mind the unhealthy years we went by way of after the Bear retired, and now it appears we’re heading down that very same path of unhealthy years of simply so-so groups till they rent the suitable coach.
I’ll admit we now have been spoiled with the success with Saban and I discover myself evaluating the workforce to Saban groups however one thing is totally different this time. It appears the gamers don’t have the self respect or motivation to play their greatest soccer every recreation the Bama manner. The brand new coaches don’t know what the Bama manner of soccer is and their teaching types battle with the Bama manner it seems, so the entire workforce doesn’t assume or play to the Bama commonplace.
The unhappy fact is that I don’t assume I even watched quite a lot of video games this 12 months during to the top. Some video games I didn’t even watch after the primary quarter. That is unhappy for me and I feel it’s additionally unhappy for a lot of different followers. The Bama video games have misplaced the leisure issue and are downright boring and predictable to observe. The blunt fact or impression I’m having is that Bama soccer is crashing and burning. And if the individuals in place to make modifications don’t get up and make some modifications, then it’s going to be an extended and troublesome highway for Bama followers and the College.
Tom in Asheville, N.C., writes …
The 2025 soccer season is almost over and by Bama requirements, this was a disappointing 12 months. Might you and your fellow sportswriters please put collectively a postmortem on why issues went unsuitable (we noticed all too clearly what went unsuitable!), and the way, going ahead, Coach DeBoer and his workers can repair it?
If we make the CFP, will probably be based mostly on accomplishments of a workforce that hasn’t been seen on the sphere since October and a residual repute from the current previous. Perhaps these pains had been inevitable, given switch losses and accidents, however the success of different, non-traditional applications, suggests a course correction is required.
ANSWER: I feel what you’re saying is that Alabama must be extra like Texas Tech and Indiana.
I could be kidding, however like everybody else I’m nonetheless having a tricky time coming to grips with faculty soccer’s new actuality. Texas Tech went out and reportedly spent round $28 million on its roster for the 2025 season. The Purple Raiders gambled huge on soccer and it’s paying off. They only received their first outright Huge 12 championship and are headed to the Orange Bowl for the primary time in program historical past.
Indiana, in the meantime, has one of many largest alumni bases within the nation, however that’s not the one cause the Hoosiers are all of the sudden elevating monumental quantities of money for soccer. It began with the hiring of recent IU president Pam Whitten, who had beforehand labored at Georgia and Kennesaw State. Whitten understood the significance of spending cash on athletics, however IU soccer didn’t take off till final season when billionaire alum Mark Cuban began reducing NIL checks.
Is it merely a matter of Alabama spending extra on soccer gamers, or is it one thing else?
The offensive manufacturing within the SEC championship recreation was worrisome, however I’m keen to offer Alabama a break based mostly on not having a number of key gamers on the sphere. Operating again Jam Miller was injured and so was star tight finish Josh Cuevas.
With out these choices, Alabama’s offense might by no means discover its rhythm in opposition to Georgia. Miller led Alabama in dashing makes an attempt (16) within the early season victory in opposition to Georgia, and likewise had three receptions out of the backfield. Cuevas had been a serious piece of the offense within the second half of the season.
Prior to now, Alabama coach Nick Saban had the depth to beat key accidents late within the season. For DeBoer, it’s not so easy. Alabama rushed for minus-three yards in opposition to Georgia and Simpson regarded outclassed on key performs. It’s truthful accountable the coaches for not creating different gamers, however Jalen Hurts isn’t strolling by way of that door.
(And if he does, then it could be to help Oklahoma. Eek!)
Ought to Alabama bench quarterback Ty Simpson earlier than the playoff? I’ve heard and browse that prompt, however the reply is not any.
We had been watching the sidelines within the second half of the SEC championship recreation to see if Alabama backup quarterback Austin Mack would possibly begin warming up, however he by no means acquired the decision. Perhaps Mack might have given Alabama an opportunity to mount a comeback, however that’s an enormous ask on such an enormous stage.
Bear in mind, Hurts had years and years of big-game expertise when he changed injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa within the 2018 SEC championship recreation.
As of late, does any workforce in faculty soccer have two quarterbacks like Hurts and Tagovailoa?
It’s not simply the quarterback place, although.
Alabama wants Miller and Cuevas again for the first-round recreation in opposition to Oklahoma on Dec.19, and it additionally would possibly assist if receiver Ryan Williams had been slightly extra concerned, too.
Williams is the most important thriller of all relating to the thought of enjoying persistently properly (the so-called Alabama commonplace). Would Williams have developed slightly higher below the steering of Saban slightly than DeBoer? It’s price contemplating.
Williams was a Saban recruit, however Alabama’s offense will get extra out of receivers Isaiah Horton (Miami switch, 2025), Germie Bernard (Washington switch, 2024) and, currently, even freshman Lotzier Brooks.
Williams appears to be a microcosm of an even bigger downside. The troubling pattern of Alabama regressing in 2024 and in 2025 can’t be ignored. Final season, quarterback Jalen Milroe was terrible by the top. This season, gamers like Williams and Simpson are struggling to complete the job.
A easy request with two weeks till kickoff: Can Alabama please discover a quarterback who can beat Oklahoma? I actually need to go to Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl.
The Sooners are 5-1 in opposition to Alabama because the flip of the century. That one victory was the 2018 Orange Bowl. Return and take a look at the offensive field rating from that recreation.
Alabama had Tua and Jalen at quarterback.
At operating again, the Tide had Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Najee Harris.
At tight finish: Irv Smith, Jr.
Within the receiver room, Alabama featured DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and Henry Ruggs III.
How a lot would these gamers price in 2025? In all probability someplace within the ballpark of $20 million.
The oil cash goes to remain in Texas and Oklahoma, however possibly Alabama’s West Coast mind belief can begin giving tech billionaires honorary levels.
MAILBAG SOUND OFF
Acquired a query for Joe? Wish to get one thing off your chest? Ship Joe an electronic mail about what’s in your thoughts. Let your voice be heard. Ask him something for the reader mailbag.
Leave a Reply