April 12, 2008
krogers
TUSCALOOSA—Nick Saban liked the format for Saturday’s A-Day game, but said it could change in the future.
The team used a first-team offense and second-team defense vs. second-team offense and first-team defense format to keep it competitive, build continuity and put first- and second-teamers head-to-head.
Ideally, however, Saban said he’d like to see the players hold a draft and pick their own teams.
“I just think it’s fun for the players,” Saban said. “I think the way we’re playing the game is probably the best way for the coaches. I think it really makes it a lot of fun for the players when they can choose up sides, take more pride in the team that they pick.
“I always did it that way (with a draft) in the past, but I felt like I made a mistake my second year at LSU, the same spring we’re in right now. We had some good players, but we didn’t have a lot of depth.
“Rohan Davey ends up being the quarterback on one team, and the left tackle ends up being a walk-on. And then Marcus Spears ends up being the right end on the other team, and we can’t block him, and we end up getting sacked nine times in the first half, and everybody thinks we’ve got a horrible team. Well, we won the SEC championship the next year, but it wasn’t a very good spring game because of some of the inequities that were created by allowing the players to draft.
“Now, past that, we always had those kinds of games (with a draft) and it never occurred because we had a little more depth. Hopefully, when we get to that point here, in terms of numbers, we’ll be able to do the same thing.”
Posted in by Ken Rogers on 04/12 at 12:58 PM
