Alabama has its supporters in the media world and there are few bigger in the mainstream than Stephen A. Smith.
Smith made his return to First Take on Tuesday and didn’t hold anything back when sharing his expectations for the Crimson Tide this season. Joined by Paul Finebaum, the two discussed Saban’s comments on 2021 being a rebuilding season and Smith believes that the head coach was justified in his comments and will bounce back greater this year.
“This is Nick Saban we’re talking about here, OK?” Smith said. “Last time I checked, I saw an injury take place to his No. 2 wide receiver in the national championship game when Jameson Williams went down. I think they beat Georgia if that injury doesn’t take place. …
“This year, what Nick Saban is saying it is what it is. That happened. There were reasons and rationales to why that happened. You have no evidence that he’s lying because when he said that, Paul Finebaum, he turns around, he corrects that and what does he wind up doing? Winning another national championship as he will do again this year.
“I’ll say it beforehand, Alabama. They coming.”
As the segment continued, Smith ran through Alabama’s schedule and stopped to comment on its matchup with Texas A&M.
He made a point to discuss Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher and his feud with Saban from the spring and what it will mean for his team when it comes to Tuscaloosa this fall.
“I already feel sorry for what’s going to happen to Jimbo Fisher,” Smith said. “Not only did you beat him last year. But then you talked all that smack about him, even though Saban should not have named names when he said what he said about the whole NIL issue. But Jimbo Fisher went nuclear. He went nuclear.
“I feel bad for what’s going to happen to Texas A&M when they go down to Alabama this year. Them boys in trouble.”
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