After losing ace recruiter Lance Thompson to Tennessee, Alabama's Nick Saban is now taking a hard-line approach toward the Volunteers.
Mobile prep quarterback A.J. McCarron, who has given a commitment to Alabama, was told by Saban not to take a recruiting trip to Knoxville.
"[Saban] said he preferred I didn't go to Tennessee for obvious reasons," McCarron told BamaOnline.com. "He said he didn't think it would look right and that he wasn't comfortable with it. I told him I wouldn't.
"He knows I'm going to Alabama, and he even told me if I want to visit Oklahoma, that's fine because they aren't an SEC rival."
Trent Richardson, a running back prospect from Pensacola, also said he won't be making the trip to Tennessee, although the Knoxville News-Sentinel says Richardson's decision "was as much about distance from home as it was about pleasing Saban."
Linebacker Tana Patrick from Stevenson, Ala., is scheduled to visit Tennessee next weekend and hasn't canceled the trip.
Thompson, while still a member of the Crimson Tide staff, met earlier this month with McCarron. He reportedly told the quarterback, "You better not go to Tennessee of all places."
McCarron said: "Not Tennessee. And then he ends up at Tennessee. And he knows the history from his time here as an [assistant], how Alabama hates Tennessee. But money talks, I guess."
Ridiculous. Saban really is like that psycho boyfriend who says, "I just can't live without you! Don't you go to that party!"
I wonder how long it'll take that attitude to wear then at Alabama.
Posted by: Ben | January 26, 2009 at 07:09 AM
ben i don't know where your loyalties lie, but there aren't many schools out recruiting saban over the last 24 months. so if its alright with you, i'm gonna hang on to the "psycho boyfriend."
Posted by: gerry dorsey | January 26, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Saban is one of those guys that basically everyone hates, but any real fan would welcome him with open arms to their program. Sub you favorite team with Bama and your biggest rival w/ UT, and im sure youll be agreeing with Gerry.
Posted by: MC | January 27, 2009 at 10:13 AM
so Ben, Saban's your boyfriend?...keep that kind of info to yourself!
Posted by: Ryan Ponder | January 30, 2009 at 05:29 AM