Taulia Tagovailoa's father explains why the QB left Alabama for Maryland
Alabama is projected to enter the 2020 season lacking both experience and depth at the game’s most important position following Taulia Tagovailoa’s decision to transfer out of the Crimson Tide program in favor of an opportunity to join Mike Locksley’s Maryland program.
While it’s accurate to say Taulia Tagovailoa would not have aided in adding much on-field experience to Alabama’s quarterback room had he returned to the program, he did offer added depth to the position.
With Tua’s brother transferring from Alabama, the Crimson Tide now only have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster in Mac Jones, Bryce Young and Paul Tyson.
So why did Taulia Tagovailoa make the decision to leave Nick Saban’s program after only one season with the team? According to his father, Galu, the decision was based on not having an opportunity to compete for playing time this offseason.
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“It’s really tough and it’s nothing against Alabama,” Galu Tagovailoa said in an interview with Matt Zenitz of AL.com. “But my boys are competitive and Lia is such a competitive kid. And he wanted an opportunity to compete. He was told that he was going to come in and compete and he didn’t really get that opportunity, so he wanted to use the spring to do that. But with the COVID-19 thing going on, he didn’t really have the opportunity to compete.
“He’s a competitor. He likes to work. He likes to compete on the field. And just, going into the season this year, he just felt that he wasn’t given that opportunity and he wants to take it somewhere where they’re going to give him the opportunity to make the best of his skill set.”
In his only season at Alabama, Taulia saw action in five games, completing nine of 12 attempts for 100 yards. He’ll have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules before having the opportunity to compete for the starting job at Maryland.
“It’s really tough and it’s nothing against Alabama,”
Sally said to Fred, “It’s not you, It’s me.”
Seems like he left for the same reason a lot of other guys do, he knew he wasn’t going to beat the others guys for the starting job. Now whether he wouldn’t be given the opportunity to compete sounds kind of hollow, why wouldn’t they give him the opportunity if he had the talent to be a starter?
If its one thing the Tagovailoa family knows beyond any shadow of a doubt, it’s that at Alabama the best QB on the team plays regardless of any other factor. Worked for Tua, not so much for Lia.
Really? Tua considered transferring because he thought he was the best QB on the team, yet Hurts was starting. I’m not so sure the family is thinking what you are thinking.
Well Tua did replace a guy that was 26-2… That doesn’t happen often so it does seem to show saban will play who he thinks is the best QB..
“Lack of experience”?? Mac Jones???
Mac Jones is a Good Quarterback…more of the Nick Saban “Game Manager” type of QB. At least the Defense will be able to rest some this year…longer drives.
I’m hoping to see a return of the play clock domination, with methodical, ground ’em out drives. If you go back and watch the teams from 2009-2015, those offenses weren’t necessarily prolifict, but man, those defenses were stout. I’d be ok to see our PPG at a more reasonable 28-35, while also seeing our opponents PPG (especially in SEC play) reduced down to a 10-14.
The game has changed since those ball control days. Saban saw it coming and has changed with it. Bama still has an elite wr group.
Good luck to Lia, but this doesn’t make a lot of sense. He’s concerned about not getting on the field this upcoming season, so he transfers so he has to sit out a year? Come on, man. The QB room was and still is fine, but the point of lowered experience is accurate. It is only accurate to the point that Tua has some snaps, but nothing meaningful. Mac, Tyson, and Young will fill the spots well, barring injury. Lia was the odd man out and his name wasn’t going to give him a leg up on the competition. I hope he makes a splash at Maryland and has a great career, but this transfer wasn’t about this season or COVID19.
He may very well not have to sit a year. It sounds like the thinking was, with spring football, Lia could have competed with Jones for the starting spot. Without the spring, they have conceded the starting spot to Jones.
And what would be his basis for justifying a wavier?
Has the NCAA ever given justification? The short answer is, no.
I wish him the best and hate it that he didn’t get a spring but I’m not sure that would have prevented a transfer…
I did like the point about only handing the ball off. I know Saban doesn’t like to run up the score but I think it’s a disadvantage that the 2nd & 3rd string doesn’t get to run the full offense. It’s not real game time experience if you don’t get to actually run the plays. Tua was the first backup to get to actually run the offense.
Usually, if the 2nd or 3rd string QB is coming in, it’s late in the game, and the team is up big; at that point they’re only trying to run out the clock. Handing the ball off accomplishes that. Throwing incomplete passes, doesn’t.
Not that I don’t agree about the 2nd and 3rd string QB’s getting to utilize the full playbook, but sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise.
His story is a bunch of crap. This family forced Jalen out and he had a great finish at OU. Nick wasn’t going to make that mistake again. They claim to have character and work ethic, what they have is give me something I didn’t earn. Now Tau was the more efficient passer but I don’t think he was the better leader for this team. He had a 1/2 game and yes Bama won that had more to do with game planning and coaching. the plan should have been that both would play. Now little brother wanted to leap frog someone that put in the work. Hell would freeze over before Paul Tyson Great Grand son of a legend would say to a coach play me or i’ll leave. Sad day for football that there is no competition in this great game.
Your post is ridiculous.
tru…You even mis-spelled TUA(it has only 3 letters).
Because his story is ridiculous and not the least bit factual.
Why can’t you disagree without putting him down?
I said his post was ridiculous, and it is. I didn’t say anything about him.
Your ridiculous. Why are you worrying bout our qb? You need to be worrying about your qb situation because YOU DONT HAVE ONE!!!LMAO. No more Joe,cause he had to go. Get ready there will be payback and your team won’t recover from. ROLLTIDE!!!