Fans questioning Nick Saban's odd comment following Jaylen Waddle's season-ending injury
Nick Saban probably wishes he could have expressed himself differently here.
Following the first half of the Alabama-Tennessee game, the Crimson Tide coach shared with CBS that star receiver Jaylen Waddle would miss the rest of the season due to injury.
Waddle was injured during the opening kickoff of the game, as his ankle got rolled up on during the tackle.
Everything Saban had to say about Waddle was fine until he got to this part of the video posted below.
“I hate it that [Waddle] gets hurt on a play like that. Not supposed to bring a ball out when he’s that deep in the end zone,” Saban says in the video.
Check it out here:
Nick Saban tells @JamieErdahl that Jaylen Waddle will be out for the year after injury vs. Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/HYcExcqayo
— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) October 24, 2020
While Saban likely didn’t mean anything negative to say about Waddle there, that probably wasn’t the best thing to say as the receiver had to leave the stadium in an ambulance during the first half of the game.
It didn’t take long for some fans to call out Saban for that comment:
Awful sound bite for Saban.
— my nana calls me Jaybird (@1JasonMitchell) October 24, 2020
Prick
— BrEaThSLoW (@Breathslow1) October 24, 2020
Oof, that wasn’t very well thought out, Sir Nick. Criticizing his most electric player for…trying to make an electric play. We’ll chock that to Heat of the moment, goat.
Sure sorry to hear about the severity of Jaylen’s injury…he’s a joy to watch (when he’s not playing my Humpers). Wishes for a full recovery.
Saban only cares about HIMSELF!!!! Nothing has changed. Same old Nick Saban, only OLDER!!!!!!! So why do players keep committing to him???? ALABAMA IS NO LONGER THE GOLD STANDARD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! And this year will prove that. And I’m saying it while Alabama is still UNBEATEN!!! UGA IS GOING TO WIN THE SEC WHETHER ALABAMA GETS THERE OR NOT!!!!
PS. Saban hasn’t won a legitimate national championship since KIRBY SMART LEFT HIM!!! 2017 WAS NOT LEGIT, SO I’M NOT COUNTING IT!!!
King Negan
41-24
The 41-24 game wasn’t legitimate either lol because they didn’t win
Georgia isn’t gonna win anything but runner up as usual
Man shut your freaking out hole. Dawgs are gonna win the east, win the sec and beat bama in that game. Those hillbillies at Bama better get used to life without saban. Will be back to sucking ass when he leaves. Hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. Dawgs will shut down smith, Jones will be on the turf alot, and Dawgs will whoop Bama 35-10.
Beastmode, Bama owns UGA. UGA is 1-3 in SECCG in Atlanta under Kirby.
sds, you just showed what a complete moron you are….Kirby is 1-2 in SECCG, dumbass. beat allbarn, lost to bammer and lsu. goober
Who really cares if you’re not counting it? You’re a salty, crybaby pu$$y.
Lol delusional georgia fan… Georgia won’t score 25 much less beat Alabama by that many… Kirby is a good coach and bama fans have nothing bad to say about him but until he beats the man he can’t be the man
Beastmode46 brand new to SDS and already talking smack. Priceless.
Lmao!!!!…The 2017 title “wasnt legit, so you’re not counting it”..Is it not legit when the other team chokes?…And how many rings does Kirby have since he left Bama…Face it moron, UGA fans may as well get used to
The rest of the comment in full context was literally Saban saying he’s a great player who makes great plays and he trusts his judgement. You people want to make an issue where there isn’t one.
Totally Agree!!
I would expect Waddle would have a green light no matter where he is on the field. The most electric player on returns in the SEC, maybe the nation.
Really? Why do they commit to him? Let’s see, Bama vs. GA; in the last 6 meetings 0 for 6! last 10 meetings 3 and 7… Ya’ll still playing catch up.
UGA is the most overrated football program in the country. LSU blew UGA out in 2018 and finished #6 over UGA at #8. In 2019 LSU blew out UGA in the SEC Championship Game on the way to going 15-0 and winning the NC. LSU has won 6 SEC West Titles since 2001 and won 5 SEC Titles since 2001 and won 3 National Championships in the last 16 years. This is done with Alabama in the same division.
UGA self promotes more than any fanbase in the USA and has accomplished very little to justify its claims of being “elite”.
Regarding Bama, they won the NC in 2017 by finding a way to win. The trophy is in Tuscaloosa so they won it whether UGA likes it or denies it is irrelevant. I am an LSU fan and Bama & LSU have no love lost for each other but reality is reality.
I disagree. I think Georgia program is elite, but certainly in the second tier behind Bama, Clemson and Ohio State. They kind of remind me of Bobby Bowden’s Florida State teams – really good but not quite good enough to win NC. Finally was given one as a lifetime achievement award in a year no team had separated itself from the rest…
you do realize that UGA has more sec titles than mighty LSU, right? and if they counted natty’s like bammer and UT, they’d have 6, so blow it out your ignorant hole. you have no clue about the history of the program.
oh yeah, UGA has more total victories and more bowl appearances and wins than LSU and just passed LSU in overall win %…..if UGA isn’t “elite”, what does that make LSU? lmao
Bleaux me. Nice cherry picking those stats about Bama. Since Saban’s first year at Bama, you Cajun clowns have won 2 SEC championships. And one of those NCs you boast about has a huge ASTERISK on it when you lost to Arkansas and Kentucky. What a freakin joke of a title. Orgeron is a clown who got lucky as hell with Brady and Burrow. He is LSU’s Gene Chizik. In 2 years you will be calling for his head. He can’t draw up a play on a whiteboard much less put together a game plan that would win a game against anybody.
Bama been living rent free in king negan’s head for 10 years now, haahaa!! This dude blowing a gasket every time his mouth opens – LOL! He can’t take another loss, it’ll be the end of him. Take it easy man!
Watch the whole interview he said he not supposed to bring it out that deep but he trust waddle judgment me. Saban cares about his players jus like there his kids. Sounds like ur jus mad Georgia cant beat bama
Epic trolling
Maybe Nick should ask himself why he’s risking his best receiver and perhaps best player on an opponent Vegas expects him to beat by 21 in such a risky role.
Naw maybe he shouldn’t. Waddle been back there all year, Saban wants his best players handling the ball as much as possible, hard to argue with the goats success
How’d that work today? Does that hurt or help Waddle’s future?
What play of the game did waddle get hurt? You don’t want him to play is players at all?
Yeah why even waste Alabama’s time with such an insignificant program and just give them a 21 point win… You don’t get paid to think I hope
oskie…. those grapes get more sour to you every time Bama beats you. Your sudden concern for a Bama player is so special.
I think any coach making that comment is in the wrong for not being concerned with the player injury foremost and not a mistake the player made and is additionally hypocritical for playing him in a high risk position when there’s a stable of capable second stringers and beyond who can do a great job. The fact that a handful of ignorant fans have to throw ad hominems at me and can’t hold their coach accountable is telling.
The fact you think you know better than possibly the best coach In the history of CFB is telling…
It tells us you don’t know WTF you’re talking about…
Playing him in that instance is debatable and I’m not claiming I know more than he does in that respect. I do know that what he said was disrespectful to the player and wrong. Not sure why this take is controversial and why people keep dodging this and simply can’t admit that it was the wrong thing to say, at minimum.
Don’t think Coach Saban thought that out,but I think he was feeling bad about this guy getting hurt. Like a what if type thing. In hind sight he wants his “hands” guys with the ball. Remember the 2 years we beat Bama, it was special teams fumbles that cost them more than anything.
nobody remembers or cares about the 2 years u beat bammer lol
Coach Saban wants the best players for all positions on the field…the players that put Alabama in the best position to win. Waddle had been returning kickoffs all year. In his comments Coach Saban tells it like it is…always…not mincing any words. It is sad that Waddle was injured, but it does happen in football to every team.
Agreed. Why does everyone get so butt hurt so quickly!? Sounds like Waddle was coached to do something different than what he did and got injured. Plain and simple. If he didn’t take the unnecessary risk in a game where they didn’t require it he would still be playing.
He was an All American as a kick returner.
Yeah. Maybe Bama (or any team) should just sit all their starters for the entire game if their team is favored. Did you ever think that they’re favored, because of the starters? If they started the second string, would they still be favored by 21, or at all? What a dumbass thing to say.
Did I say to start the second string? No-I said to use starters in non special teams capacity when you have the capacity to do so. As of last nights game, no TD’s were ran in off kicks and the best receiver is out for the year, how’d that work out? Let’s talk further when your iq moves a standard deviation or two up the bell curve.
Honestly, your football acumen is extremely questionable. Probably shouldn’t be calling out someone else’s iq. Coaches play their playmakers in the best situations for them. It gives their full skillset exposure to the NFL.
Seriously, your take is just silly. As for Sabans comment, you really have to be willing to eschew common sense to find anything too egregious about his entire statement.
Some of you guys should never comment about football. You actually need some experience watching and learning the game.
A player can get hurt on any play. It sucks. Sometimes emotion has you saying something that you probably shouldn’t. He also said that he’s a great player and you gotta trust his judgement. But, I do get it. The hate is so strong for many fans that they buy into silly ideas.
To win games? That’s why you do as a coach. Put players in the best position to help your team win games. It’s not hard to figure out. On Saturday it’s all about winning. If your goal as a player or coach isn’t about winning then you shouldn’t be there.
I wondered the same thing. Bama can afford it though with a great receiver corps with depth. Many coaches would not risk him.
Lol…Wth are you saying?It was the first play of the game!So you are saying if Bama is favored by Vegas to win he should not play any of his best players in that game?Typical Tennessee logic…smart as a box of rocks!
Give me a break. He didn’t say anything every single person watching didn’t already think. Waddle was trying to make something out of nothing, thinking of improving his own stock rather than do what’s best for the team. But…since it was Saban who said it, it’s a big deal. Please.
Everyone ne is entitled to an opinion I suppose, but that’s just plain dumb. Waddle is an explosion waiting to happen, he obviously thought he could beat the defenders to the edge…and almost did
It’s a fair point that Waddle never lets it bounce into the endzone even on the kicks he obviously should, but really it’s not any more common for a guy to be injured on a kick return then any other play.
If that were true they would not have changed the kickoff rules – no running starts.
He is a receiver wrashall… Since you want to talk about changes for safety think of the targeting change… WRs used to get destroyed crossing the middle…
Well, the out loud part is the difference here isn’t it? I can understand it, but it was still dumb to say that in an interview. But it’ll be forgotten before you know it.
It sucks and it happened on a play that shouldn’t have happened.. hindsight is 20/20…
This is what Saban should have said. It’s not what you say its how you say it.
That’s not a negative comment that’s a fact you’re not supposed to do that and it’s a shame that you get hurt doing something you’re not supposed to do
Still worried about Waddle I see! Yep, it’s also a bigger shame he didn’t choose to go to UGA, AUBURN OR ANY SCHOOL THAT WOULD APPRECIATE HIM!!! That was his biggest blunder!!!
Waddle, it’s not too late to fix that blunder though!!! UGA would love to have you!!! Either way. Get well soon kid. You’ll be fine, just believe. Your in my prayers.
SPECIAL MESSAGE….
The NFL will still be there when you get back. They will still be drooling over you! So get well. Then next season really rip it up for a few games. Long enough to show your back. THEN OPT OUT IF ITS ALABAMA!!!! But if your at UGA stay!!! And beat your old coach. Wouldn’t that really be fun??? After you have scored your 4th TD in the game. Just look over and smile at him!!! But if you choose to stay at Alabama. Then just OPT OUT!!!
PS. Really, I know your depressed now. But rehab is a matter of months. You’ll be ready for spring probably! Either way. You’ll be better than ready come fall camp!!! Maybe he reads this!
King Negan
He didn’t go to georgia because he wants to be a winner… Enough said
what a lame, dumbass response. why do you people even respond to this idiot? you make yourselves look even dumber than him
LMAO.. Always begging…
Let’s all go to Georgia and Auburn and waste our talents for lesser coaches and never achieve anything better than mediocrity lol
So desperate to see Saban lose to your man crush Kirby lol I hate to be the guy to tell you but Kirby just isn’t good enough to beat his boss
second in sec titles, 2nd in all time bowl appearances and wins. about to be 2nd in all time wins, 3rd in all-time win %…..pretty good all time numbers for “mediocrity”. learn the history of the SEC, goober
Negan…Waddle chose Alabama because he wants the opportunity to play for a National Championship, not merely an SEC East championship.
right, because bammer has played for ONE since they beat UGA in the natty lmao
I don’t think it’s that terrible. He isn’t wrong. Maybe not the place to say it or the time but I think we all know he isn’t wrong. Especially when it sounds like he’s been coached differently
I mean is he wrong?
Not at all. Waddle couldn’t predict that trying to make a play that he’d be out for the year but everyone getting upset over the truth shows the state our society is in
@Dwreck…….While I agree society could use a few less democrats lol. But, no really. I don’t think people are getting angry at the truth. I think it’s more of the FACT. THAT WADDLE COULD HAVE OPTED OUT AND NEVER FACED THIS! It’s Nick Sabans PREOCCUPATION WITH HE DID THE WRONG THING! Instead of just. DANG I’M SOOOOO SAD FOR THE KID!!!
He sounded like a man more worried about winning another championship. Rather than feeling for the kid! Saban could have been less coachy and a lot more sympathetic!!!
But that is like asking an elephant to fly!!! It happens in storybooks and tv but not real life! Asking Saban to care about anything other than himself is really impossible it seems!!!
Personally I hope this side of Nick Saban gets seen by everyone! Especially recruits!!! Maybe a few star players will opt out or transfer!!!
UGA IS A NICE DESTINATION! Compare what D’wan Mathis father said about UGA treating his son like their own. Saving his life even!!! Compare that to Sabans attitude and also how Dan Mullen mistreated on offensive linemen Chris B who transferred. How his father talked about Mullen! Said he treated his INJURED SON like a piece of meat, demanding things he wasn’t able to do. And getting angry with him not doing it!!! Compare that to the UGA ATTITUDE!!! That honestly was started with Vince Dooley but made better by Mark Richt!!! And now Kirby is continuing the UGA legacy! Of putting God first and then players!!! But you put God first by putting your brother first!!!
PS. Kirby Smart has proven that you can do this and still win!!! UGA is where I would send my college student!!!
King Negan
So, is that what Kirby did with Justin Fields to keep him from leaving UGA? Because his coach treated him like he was his son? Just asking since Coach Saban doesn’t treat his players well!
And, Justin went to Ohio State in search of fairness he couldn’t get from a coach who puts his players first. Surely you remember that?
He’s a troll who likes to trigger other posters and, as you can see, he is very good at it.
Perhaps the recruits ought to ask Cade Mays why he would prefer to transfer to Tennessee from Georgia, since Georgia is such a great destination. Just say’in.
bamadmd, he went back to Knoxville to play with his little brother, dumbass. you’re a complete moron
Mics are always turned on around SEC head coaches. It’s exactly the kind of thing you expect a coach to say but hope they don’t…
This is pitiful. The fact that people are thinking Saban blames Jalen. The media should show the entire clip. If they would, you people would see that Saban actually said, “I hate it that [Waddle] gets hurt on a play like that. Not supposed to bring a ball out when he’s that deep in the end zone, but he’s a talented guy and we let him use his judgment.” That means that Waddle is so skilled that he can do things you can’t coach. He does things by feel at the time not strictly by what is on the play sheet. Of course Saban didn’t want him to bring that ball out, and honestly, neither did I but, Saban and I can’t do what Jalen does. Jalen played what he felt he needed to, to help the team be successful, he got hurt. It happens in every sport, every day. I don’t blame him, or the kids that were the blockers, or the kid that tackled him, and neither does Saban. Some of y’all should be ashamed and whoever posted these clips should retract them and show the entire comment.
Sad part is the clip does show all of what he said. It’s the idiots who inject all the bs into it
Yeah I am a UGA fan but you’ve gotta give Bama respect as we haven’t been able to beat them!
This whole argument is ridiculous! Saban clearly said “he’s a talented guy and we let him use his judgment”! He’s a coach being interviewed about what happened so he explained it and gave his thoughts. He did nothing wrong but we all know how internet folks can make something out of nothing! Congrats on the win Bama and here’s to hoping UGA gets another shot at ya in December! Go Dawgs!
I am sure Saban was thinking it was a shame to get hurt on a play he should have not taken out of the end zone.
I agree with Oskie, why put one of your top weapons on kick returns? If the Bama offense struggled I would get it. The risk/reward does not add up.
Saban has always incorporated starters into special teams…
You play the best players… Saban seems to know how to coach.
The entire clip still shows Saban blaming him!!! He is saying very clearly. If Waddle didn’t bring the ball out. This wouldn’t have happened!!!!
Don’t try to make Saban into a nice guy. Because he is NOT!!! Go watch how he jumped all over Maria Taylor for asking a legitimate question regarding his QBS WHEN HE HAD TUA AND HURTS!!!
PS. Saban is an A$$HOLE!!! Only Alabama fans or A$$ kissers say different!!!
King Negan
Guess what UGA and the Vols have in common? Both teams took an a$$ whipping in their last game at the hand of Bama…
We sit around ready to have criticism on everything a Team or Person does. A young man is hurt given his all, A Coach is Pressed to Keep winning, and people find the evil in both. Words are what divide the WORLD today. FOOTBALL brings us together. Thank YOU WADDLE FOR THE MEMORIES. THANK YOU SABAN FOR BRINGING LIGHT TO WADDLE’S ABILITY. Young man your journey is not over. #WaddleBAMALEGION4LIFE.
Wow! What a class act (ass) fan you are! Way to represent your team with dignity!! Or, no decency!!!
Sorry, this message above was meant for King Negan, whoever that is!!!
He’s a troll who likes to trigger other posters. He’s good at it.
why do you idiots keep responding to him? makes you dumber than he is!!
Good, bad or indifferent, it is what it is at this point. Either way, very sad to see it happen to any player. But this kid is something special. Even as a Bama hating UT fan that just got yet another one put on them, I have to say, that the best WR in college football, as well as someone that’s just fun to watch, is lost for the season. Hoping the best for him.
All Nick said was Waddle made a bad decision bringing the ball out from so deep. I yelled the exact same thing at the TV when Waddle hit the turf. Stats tell you that returning a ball kicked that deep usually doesnt yield good results. Waddle is a special player and I wish him well. It wasnt like T. Prothro. Folks need to relax. Haters are gonna hate. Love the Tide and coach Saban!
Maybe it didn’t seem like the most appropriate or sensitive thing to say, in the moment. However, Saban doesn’t care about that. He is deliberate & measured with EVERYTHING he says. I guarantee you he said it to send a message, reinforcing why even his most electric players shouldn’t forget why he coaches them to do (& not do) certain things in certain situations!!!
This example allows him to go so far as to suggest that not following his fundamentals very well may result in getting injured on the 1st play of any given game & missing an entire season! Seems extreme, but a coach rarely gets opportunity to reinforce such a lesson in real time, without need for exaggerations or hypotheticals! Saban isn’t one to waste a moment, even if it ends up with the media or some individuals labeling him as a bad guy!
For the inexperienced, the ignorant, and the purposeful detractors. It’s a commonly known fact in sports medicine that injuries are more likely to happen when athletes try to “grossly” exceed practical expectations. Coaches give players guidelines that are based on practical facts without limiting their spirit to achieve new marks. Saban makes a simple comment here that his staff does have sensible guidelines in this situation, and he properly gives Waddle the benefit of the doubt, due to his unusual talent profile. No hate called for. Prayers for Waddles fast and complete recovery.
50 years ago, this statement would have been made with no reaction at all. It just goes to show how big the blizzard has been since then, because there are snowflakes everywhere. Like Dana Loesch, I am done with them. A neighborhood snowflake called the local law enforcement to report me for posting a link to a Classic Firearms rifle giveaway on Next Door, and I am sure he cried and had his monthly nosebleed when they laughed at him, or should I say it.
Praying for a speedy recovery for Jalen. Pretty sure Saban was just upset and thinking why did he try and run that one out. Seems a reasonable thought
Bingo, he praised Waddle and his judgement. While realizing he is now down a key player for the remainder of the season
Totally Agree!!
I think a lot of people are looking way too deep at this. It was a tragedy regardless. Let’s move on.
Had Waddle took it the house Saban would not be saying “I hate that he scored on that. Not supposed to bring a ball out when he’s that deep in the end zone.”
No, he’d be saying what a smart player Waddle is and how great he is as a return man. So Yes, of course he was putting this on Waddle. He probably would not have said it publicly if he had it to do all over again but clearly he was ticked off at Waddle and that was occupying his thoughts at the time.
Congratulations on being wrong. It would have been addressed, just not publicly.
No matter what Saban said or how he said it, Jaylen Waddle is as great a player as we’ll see in the SEC or anywhere else in College football.
Best of luck, young man.
So keeping it real and spitting facts is now frowned upon.
No wonder this country is falling apart. People need to be hand held through everything.
As a diehard UGA fan and grad, I have to give props to Saban and his program. He wasn’t criticizing Waddle but running the tape that was playing in his head that included the fact he trusted the judgement of his player. I only hope Kirby can motivate and lead his staff to seek excellence in all things football, because until that happens we will struggle to beat Bama.
He’s not wrong. You take the touchback there. I thought it was dumb of Roger McCreary to try to return his back-of-the-endzone INT this weekend as well.
This ain’t nothing more then “Rat poison.” Saban isn’t saying Waddle shouldn’t have taken the ball out of the end zone. He’s saying that players aren’t supposed to take the ball out of the end zone that deep and it’s unfortunate that he did and got injured. Honestly I don’t think I would’ve played him with his ankle giving him problems last week. But that’s still not to blame Ssaban in anyway. Just because a team is favored by 21 doesn’t mean that will actually happen. And it’s the 1st kickoff of the game so of course Waddle is going to be the 1 receiving the kickoff. Saban knows you can live and die by special teams. People are always trying to make it look like Saban said something or meant something a certain way when it’s not even close. It’s all those haters trying to make him loose his recruiting.
Since when is it not acceptable to actually say that a player made a mistake ? Everyone makes mistakes every day of their lives. This “politically correct” & “over sensitivity” to anything that any person says is idiotic and insane.
It wasn’t Bama fans criticizing Coach Saban, it was band wagon jumpers.
It’s mostly the territory. When you set high above all others you become the target of all below you. As the winningest coach of any era has and will .
“Saban seems to know how to coach.” Well duh. That does not mean he is immune to mistakes. Mike Shanahan was a pretty good NFL coach and he admitted putting hall of famer Tim Brown returning kicks was a mistake. Admitted after he was lost for the season after an opening kickoff to start the year.
I am a bigger Alabama fan than most and could not allow myself to be happy after Saturday’s beatdown.
Like any parent or person who cares– he’s stating the obvious. Waddle saw a slim chance at a highlight and it backfired.
UGA is still what it has always been…. A Choke Artist… Can’t win the big games. And I like Kirby but he’s just like your former coach at choking in the big games. And all you wanna be sports critics can do is put your on little spin on what Saban said. I agree… He shouldn’t have came out of the end zone. But I don’t see anywhere where Saban said he got himself hurt or it was his own fault. All he said was…”shouldn’t have come out from that deep in the end zone.” But as the saying goes… Haters gonna hate. Roll Tide !!!
Nick showed his only emotion – disappointment.
People who scrutinize Saban’s words, are the same ones who jump up and down when someone says, “All Lives Matter.”