Nick Saban thrilled with hot start, upset Alabama didn't maintain momentum

Alabama jumped out to an early 21-0 lead over Kentucky less than seven minutes into the game, a terrific start on the road to quiet the home crowd. Coach Nick Saban was thrilled with the start but wasn’t as keen on his team letting the momentum slip following a special teams mistake.

He joined ESPN following the first quarter to provide his thoughts.

“Well I liked the way we started,” Saban said on the ESPN broadcast. “We did a great job on offense executing down the field. We got out of the two drives on defense, but then we made a big turnover which changed the momentum of the game a little bit, so we’ve got to get it back, which we had the opportunity there in that series on offense and didn’t do anything with it.”

After taking the 21-0 lead, Alabama made its first real miscue on a punt return.

Return man Kool-Aid McKinstry seemed to misjudge a punt or lose it in the sun, letting it bounce and hit the turf after it touched him. Kentucky was able to jump on top just before the ball rolled out of bounds, taking possession in Alabama territory.

Moments later the Wildcats would score, capitalizing via a Devin Leary touchdown pass to Tayvion Robinson from 6 yards out, cutting into the deficit by making it 21-7.

That was a much-needed answer to the electric start by Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Alabama scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the game, also taking advantage of a Kentucky turnover deep in its own territory.

The first scoring drive for the Crimson Tide went 80 yards in 10 plays and ended on a brilliant touchdown strike from Jalen Milroe to Amari Niblack from 26 yards out.

The Crimson Tide went back to the well and relied on Milroe on the second touchdown, with the Alabama gunslinger finding a bust in the coverage to hit Kobe Prentice for a 40-yard score down the right side of the field.

Kentucky then fumbled on its ensuing possession, setting the Crimson Tide up with excellent field position.

Milroe would capitalize by plunging in from one yard out, making it 21-0 with 5:12 remaining in the first quarter.

Nick Saban will be happy with the overall results so far, though. Through the first quarter Alabama had a 146-21 edge in total yardage, averaging 7.7 yards per play versus just 1.6 yards per play by Kentucky.