Nick Saban shares condolences following death of Mississippi State's Sam Westmoreland

Before starting his weekly press conference, Alabama coach Nick Saban shared his condolences for Sam Westmoreland after his tragic death. Mississippi State shared the sad news on Wednesday that the freshman offensive lineman from Tupelo, Mississippi had passed away.

Nick Saban shares message following Sam Westmoreland’s death

“We’re really saddened to hear the passing of one of Mississippi State’s players — Sam Westmoreland. Our thoughts and prayers go out to he, his family, his friends [and] the Mississippi State football team. This is terrible that a young person is not going to be able to enjoy a successful life,” said Saban before fielding questions during his press conference.

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The college football world felt the loss Mississippi State felt on Wednesday as they announced the tragic passing of the 18-year-old freshman. The university did not immediately provide any details regarding Westmoreland’s passing, although a statement from coach Mike Leach revealed that his passing was sudden and heartbreaking to the Bulldogs.

“The Mississippi State Athletics Family is heartbroken by the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland,” Leach said. “Sam was a beloved son, brother and teammate, and a tremendous young man with a limitless future. He will always be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him. The entire MSU Family mourns as our thoughts and prayers go out to the Westmoreland family. Our highest priority is the support of the Westmoreland family and our student-athletes during this troubling time.”

Saturday’s matchup between Alabama and Mississippi State will certainly carry the weight of Westmoreland’s passing, adding a layer of tragedy to an already highly-emotional game between two top-25 ranked programs.

As Saban highlighted in his opening comments on Wednesday, one of the most tragic parts of a young student-athlete passing away is the fact that they will not be able to enjoy the success that their hard work was earning them.