Although comments made last weekend by Alabama junior quarterback Jalen Hurts have gained national traction in the sporting world, Crimson Tide players insist they are blocking out all of the outside opinions.
Alabama held a two-hour practice Tuesday afternoon in helmets and shoulder pads, marking the fourth practice of the preseason.
"I don't think there is any noise," senior tailback Damien Harris told reporters. "The only noise that there is comes from the media making it. It's not really a big deal in-house. We're focused on fall camp."
Tuesday provided Alabama's first media availability for players since Saturday afternoon's "Fan Day" festivities, when Hurts and sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spoke to reporters for the first time since January's 26-23 overtime win over Georgia in last season's showdown for the national championship. Hurts was ineffective against the Bulldogs and was replaced at halftime by Tagovailoa, who rallied the Crimson Tide from a 13-0 deficit.
Hurts said Saturday that Alabama's coaches "can't control this situation," adding that the quarterback competition has "always been the elephant in the room." Multiple media outlets across the country weighed in on Hurts, with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claiming Saban should immediately put Hurts on the second team.
Crimson Tide senior center Ross Pierschbacher said Tuesday that several players gathered to discuss the situation and that the meeting was productive.
"I just think it brought closure," Pierscbacher said. "We're all ready to move forward. It's not about these two guys. We're going to play regardless. I think it was a good thing to get everything out on the table."
Saban is scheduled to meet with the media following today's practice.
Alabama is expected to practice a total of 25 times before its Sept. 1 opener against Louisville in Orlando. The Crimson Tide likely will scrimmage for the first time this Saturday.
Senior outside linebacker Christian Miller doesn't believe the quarterback conversation has been any kind of distraction whatsoever.
"It's easy for us, because we're locked in on ourselves," Miller said. "We're focusing on ourselves right now and who we are as a team. We're figuring out our identity.
"We don't really allow any outside distractions to affect us. I don't think it's even bothered anybody. We just keep on rolling."
Tide tidbits
Ben Davis, the No. 1 inside linebacker nationally in the 2016 signing class, has been practicing at outside linebacker. Davis redshirted in 2016 and played only in the Mercer game last season. Alabama's first-team inside linebacker tandem of Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses is being backed by Joshua McMillon and Markail Benton.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.