TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Not only did Alabama coach Nick Saban neglect to name a starting quarterback on Monday, but he also neglected to release a depth chart in any form.
It was the first time in Saban's 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide that he didn't release a formal depth chart the week of the season-opener.
Alabama will host Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Saban said a formal list of starters and backups «creates a lot of distractions» within the locker room. «And quite frankly, you know, we don't need that,» he added. «I want all of our players to continue to compete, continue to compete for playing time, to try to play at the highest level.
And I don't want anybody on our team to think they're a backup player or whatever.» Saban apologized for not releasing a depth chart, but he said that players know who should start and who shouldn't.