Nick Saban says Alabama football doesn't have a quarterback controversy

Adam Sparks | The Tennessean

ATLANTA — Alabama’s quarterback controversy was created by the media, aight?

That was the take of coach Nick Saban in his opening remarks at SEC Media Days on Wednesday.

"The quarterback controversy that you'd love to create, that you've already created, that you will continue to create ... is still to be determined," said Saban, referring to the competition between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, which was sparked in the national championship game.

Hurts is a one-time Heisman Trophy candidate. Tagovailoa replaced him at halftime of the national championship game, leading Alabama to an overtime win over Georgia.

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Saban cautioned media members that any questions about his quarterback competition would get the same response: “We’ll see.”

But as reporters poked at that premise, Saban said, “I have no idea” if Hurts will be on the season-opening roster. “But I expect him to be there,” he added.

Saban faces a delicate decision. Hurts led Alabama to back-to-back national title games in his only two seasons with the Crimson Tide, but Tagovailoa is the new flashy toy behind center after electric performances last season.

So could Tagovailoa start and Hurts become a specialized option like Tim Tebow was as a freshman at Florida? Saban, at least, hinted at having a place for both quarterbacks.

"We'll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team," Saban said. "They'll all have to make a decision based on what that outcome is as to what their future is, you know, at Alabama."

The offseason has only clouded Alabama's quarterback competition. Tagovailoa missed most of spring practice with a broken bone in his finger. And in April, Hurts' father told Bleacher Report that his son would be "the biggest free agent in college football history," if he was not the Alabama starter.

Alabama will play Louisville in Orlando in its Sept. 1 opener, and Saban emphasized that his quarterback decision is wide open entering preseason camp.

"I love both guys," Saban said. "... Somebody's got to win the team, and however these guys can help the team, I hope they are both committed to staying and doing that."

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.