riley cole

Riley Cole carries the ball for Oneonta this season (www.southernexposurephotos.com/The Blount Countian

One day after Oneonta linebacker Riley Cole decommitted from Alabama, his father David called into JOX FM's Opening Drive to clear the air.

The main points: the Cole family was most disappointed in the timing of the decision, said communication was the major issue and that Alabama head coach Nick Saban was "not the reason for this happening."

"The respect I have for Coach Saban and his family, I can't describe enough about it," David Cole said on JOX. "I really don't think he knew about what was trying to be presented to us."

Cole committed to Alabama last June and took his official visit to Alabama on the weekend of Jan. 15, supposedly furthering his relationship with new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

But after Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker - Cole's primary recruiters - left for Georgia, communication started to drop. Last Friday - just five days before National Signing Day - the grayshirt talk came up with Cole.

David Cole did thank supporters, but did note some fan reaction has been "pretty nasty."

"I think he's going to be happy now with the decision he's going to make," he said of his son.

Riley Cole later told AL.com that he would make his decision at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at his high school.