TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-Just a week remains before Alabama kicks off with Kent State, and the prevailing question remains.
Who plays quarterback this season? That answer is still a mystery, and coach Nick Saban isn’t tipping his hand yet.
Both AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims are expected to share snaps next Saturday, but not only who goes first but how the playing time is divided isn’t known yet.
“I think when you make that decision, you try to do it with the effectiveness of the players in mind,” Saban said. “I don’t want either guy if they do play or when they do play that they think if they go in and make a mistake that the other guy is going to come in. That is not how it is going to be managed.”
Teammates remained supportive of both candidates, who have not spoken to reporters since the first week of practices. Saban looks forward to seeing the two perform when the games actually count.
“We’ll let them play, we’ll prescribe how they are going to play, they’ll know how they are going to play, and they’ll have an expectation going in of exactly what they are going to do when they are in there,” Saban said. “I think that’s probably the most important thing at the end of the day.”
No Carter Yet
After Thursday’s practice, Saban hinted there could be movement in the academic qualification of junior college transfer Duron Carter.
By Friday afternoon, the former Ohio State receiver was nowhere to be seen during the media viewing period at the beginning of practice.
Classes began Wednesday, and students have until Aug. 31 to register or add a class.