Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed Agiye Hall’s comments on social media during his Monday press conference along with what it takes for frustrated young players to gain the coaching staff’s trust to get onto the field.
“Well, it is what it is,” Saban said about Hall’s comments. “But– look it still comes down to players creating value for themselves by what they do. You know I’ve said this before –there’s players who have talent but they have to learn how to use it, and they have to use it in an effective way in the way they practice. It’s up to the player to impress the coaches that they can be trusted to go into the game and do what they’re supposed to do.
“So when players get frustrated they sometimes don’t respond the way they should in terms of their preparation and focusing on what they need to do to become a good player, because they’re so concerned about how much they’re playing.
“So if players are competitors they probably will be frustrated that they’re not playing. But it’s how do you respond to that? What do you do to respond to that in a positive way that’s gonna help you improve your circumstances in the future? And the way to do that is — do the right things and go out and practice and play well, so that not only you but your teammates and everybody in the organization can trust you to go do what you’re supposed to do.”
Hall had displayed his frustrations over a now-deleted tweet following the team’s game against Mississippi State.
“Yeah nah, calling it quits,” Hall said on Twitter.
Teammate and fellow wide receiver John Metchie had offered some advice to Hall following the Crimson Tide’s 49-9 win over the Bulldogs.
“It’s just the process, the process of being here,” Metchie said. “I remember what It was like as a freshman. I guess my words of encouragement would just be, it’s a process and you got to keep going.”
Hall was listed as a five-star recruit by Touchdown Alabama’s recruiting rankings and was the No. 6 ranked prospect in the 2021 class. The Valrico, FL native has recorded just one catch for 10 yards in four appearances this season for the Crimson Tide.
Fellow freshman wide receiver Javon Baker was another Alabama player who did not travel with the team to Starkville, MS, last Saturday. Saban was asked for a status update on Baker, who is possibly going through similar trials as Hall is.
“It’s the same thing when players do what they’re supposed to do they travel, they play, they contribute to the team and that’s every player’s choice,” Saban said. “Every player has a choice to do the things that they need to do to contribute to the team and everybody’s gotta buy-in. So players that do that travel, players that have issues with that — they’re not really doing what they should do. I mean — that’s our job as a coach to make sure people are doing the right things and if they’re not doing the right things there’s consequences for that. There’s consequences for that in life. There’s consequences in that in competitive sports.”
Baker, who was a part of the 2020 recruiting class has made appearances in four games for Alabama has caught five passes for 80-yards and one touchdown which came against Southern Miss.
There has been no shortage of frustrated young players in the past for Alabama with some opting for the NCAA transfer portal and others trusting the process and accepting the advice from the older players.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
