It Sounds Like Nick Saban Just Threw Last Year's Alabama Assistant Coaches Under the Bus

After getting stomped by Trevor Lawrence and Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship last year, the Alabama Crimson Tide saw an almost unprecedented exodus of coaching talent. Co-offensive coordinators Mike Locksley and Josh Gattis, quarterbacks coach Dan Enos, and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi all departed in search of promotions elsewhere.

Nick Saban, having had to Frankenstein a coaching staff together that included such names as Steve Sarkisian, is taking the low road when asked about all those coaches from last season. He said on SEC Network's "The Paul Finebaum Show" that these coaches' personal agendas became more important last season than trying to coach a winning football team in Tuscaloosa.

There's no walking these comments back, is there? This man knew exactly what he was saying.

While Locksley did end up getting the head coaching job at Maryland, only one assistant leaving Alabama for a head coaching job makes Saban's comment come off as a bit disingenuous, and it seems like Saban is shifting the blame.

Even if some of these guys were in line for head coach roles, would phoning it in during the biggest game of the season (and potentially their entire coaching careers up until that point) be attractive for programs who want to swipe them away?

Sounds like a cop out to me.

Dabo Swinney came in with a better quarterback and a better game plan and kicked your butt, Nick. The sooner you admit that, put it in the past, and move on, the sooner Alabama can resume their push for a championship this season.