Tim Brando calls Nick Saban's fourth down decision "arrogance"
I enjoy following twitter during big games to see the input from current and former athletes and from sports casters. Last night there was one particular quote that stood out from Tim Brando after Nick Saban chose to go for it on fourth down at the LSU one yard line early in the third quarter.
Tim Brando had to be the only one in the country thinking about "arrogance" at that point of the game. First of all when is it outside of the norm to go for it on fourth down on the opponents one yard line? Not sure what the exact percentages are, but teams probably choose to go for it close to 50% of the time in a fourth and goal situation at the one yard line. How does he come up with arrogance in that situation? Yes, points was at a premium last night, but Alabama was still in great position to pick up at least three points even if they failed to convert on fourth down by keeping the LSU offense pinned deep and punt out of their endzone.
I personally agreed with Nick Saban's fourth down decision at the time. First of all Adam Griffith has been inconsistent this year and had already missed a 42 yard field goal earlier in the game. Secondly, the Alabama defense had been stonewalling the LSU offense for the most part so chances was very good if Alabama did not convert the fourth and goal play, the defense could keep LSU pinned deep and Alabama could get the ball back in great field position.
Tim's twitter comment did not go unnoticed from the Alabama faithful. Former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker called Tim out for his comment.
If Jay Barker who is one of the nicest low key guys around has to call Tim out then there is a good chance Tim stepped way over the line. Tim likes to push the envelope with his out of the box thinking at times which is fine. But this comment just made zero sense. Jay Barker played quarterback at Alabama, he won a national championship at Alabama and he has been around the Alabama program enough as a member of the WJOX Morning Drive program to have a good feel of how Nick Saban runs the team at Alabama. It was nice to see Jay stand up and question Tim Brando's comment. Jay did it in a very professional way that was not mean or obscene and made his own point clear while questioning Tim about his use of the word "arrogance". There was one more exchange between Tim and Jay.
Basically Jay and Tim agreed to disagree on the subject. I guess Tim is the only one who sees it through the lens of arrogance. People might label Nick Saban arrogant toward the press sometimes, but you will never see Nick Saban risk losing a game over a decision of arrogance. It is just totally absurd to think arrogance had anything to do with Nick Saban's decision to go for a fourth and goal at the LSU one yard line early in the third quarter. It is ok to second guess his decision, that is fine. To say arrogance had anything to do with the decision is way out there in outer space and not like Mars outer space, more like Pluto outer space, way, way, way out there.
