When it comes to making sure her husband looks the part on camera, Miss Terry Saban is doing her thing.
For Nick Saban, the Alabama head coach is at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile (Ala.) this week for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He’s watching four of his former players get evaluated by NFL coaches – including Jalen Hurts, who was the starting quarterback at Oklahoma last season.
Photo of Saban and players comes via Charlie Potter of BamaOnline.
Jalen Hurts joined Nick Saban and #Alabama’s Senior Bowlers for the annual post-practice group photo. pic.twitter.com/JAKgtDZyzs
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 22, 2020
After an 11-2 campaign in 2019, the 68-year-old is prepared to truly get the “Alabama factor” back on board.
With reports on the Crimson Tide moving Brian Baker to an off-field role, rumors surfaced on social media that Freddie Roach would be his replacement at defensive line coach.
A native of Killen, Ala., Roach was at the University of Alabama on Monday and met with Saban.
On Tuesday, a picture appeared on Twitter with Roach at a high school and he was sporting an Alabama shirt.
The caption of the photo used the term “Alabama Crimson Tide Coach” in front of Roach’s name.
This had all the more excited, as it provided a signal of maybe it is official.
I would like to thank Alabama Crimson Tide Coach @freddierch8 for stopping by and visiting @MAHSLions ??today @AlabamaFTBL!!! pic.twitter.com/otTkjqAAlv
— Cedric Miller (@BHZKID23) January 21, 2020
In speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Saban said there is still some ‘internal things’ that need to be done with Roach before an announcement is made.
“When we get ready to release something on Freddie Roach, we will do it,” he said. “Freddie is an Alabama guy. We would love to have him be a part of our program and hopefully all those things will work out favorably.”
Roach arrived at Alabama in 2001 from Brooks High School and played four seasons at linebacker under coaches Dennis Franchoine and Mike Shula. He ended his career with 271 tackles and made the Alabama All-Decade Team for the 2000s.
RELATED: Has Alabama made things official with D-Line coach Freddie Roach?
Following his playing days, Roach was an assistant strength coach from 2008-10. He was part of the Tide’s first national championship under Saban and first title since Gene Stallings in 1992. Roach would serve at defensive line and linebackers’ coach at East Mississippi Community College, Murray State, South Alabama and Ole Miss.
Prior to the Rebels, he had a second stint at Alabama as the Director of Player Development from 2015-16.
He witnessed two Southeastern Conference Championships and a College Football Playoff National Championship in the 2015 season.
With the talent it has on the defensive line, having Roach is huge for the Tide.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
