During Alabama’s first news conference of the 2019 season head coach, Nick Saban took to the podium to discuss a number of topics related to the players/coaches. But until last night getting asked about former Ohio State assistant Zach Smith was probably not on his mind.
Yesterday public records were released regarding text messages between Urban Meyer and an unknown recipient about Smiths potential departure to Alabama.
“Zach Smith was offered wr/passing coord at Alabama. Went there to talk to Saban,” read Meyer’s text message. “At first thought maybe he should go then decided that all effort I’ve put (into) him and it’s Alabama. I told him to stay, and he turned it down. Every (expletive) day it’s something.
Saban did, in fact, confirm that there were conversations between both parties but denied offering him a job on his staff.
“I think it’s pretty common that sometimes people that get interviewed someplace or someone calls and shows interest in them,” said Saban. “It’s the way this profession works is that you go in and use that as leverage to try and improve your situation where you are now, especially if you have a job or you decide that that’s a better opportunity for you. We talk to a lot of coaches about a lot of things. I really never did offer this guy a job.”
Smith was fired from Ohio State roughly six months ago after numerous reports of domestic violence allegations against him. Meyer also earned a three-game suspension in 2018 for his handling of the situation.
Whether or not Saban actually offered Smith a job doesn’t matter. The fact of the matter is that any conversations between the two came at a time before Smith’s allegations were made public.
Despite Alabama recently being the coach rehabilitation center it is safe to assume that Saban and the university would likely not even meet with Smith if the reports were known at the time.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
