Reports: Alabama not expecting any opt-outs for Sugar Bowl
No. 5 Alabama (10-2, 6-2 SEC) is playing No. 9 Kansas State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve in a couple of weeks. Apparently, the Crimson Tide will get full participation from all of its draft-eligible players for that game.
On Friday afternoon, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. would play in the game. Soon after, Chris Low, also of ESPN, added that the Crimson Tide weren’t expecting any opt-outs.
“I told them both (Young and Anderson) that it was their choice in terms of what they wanted to do,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told reporters on Friday. “We discussed the pros and cons of it, and they made their decisions.”
Obviously, this is big news for the outlook of this game.
Other impact players such as defensive backs Brian Branch and Eli Ricks, as well as running back Jahmyr Gibbs and some of Alabama’s seniors, were also potential candidates to forgo the Sugar Bowl in favor of avoiding injury and getting a head start on the draft process.
Instead, any draft-eligible juniors and seniors who plan to leave after the season will suit up one more time with their teammates. A lot of these decisions start with Young and Anderson, easily the two best players on the team, electing to play. When two projected top-10 picks choose to participate, that sets the tone.
“I think it sets a great example for guys that respect their teammates, wanna be a part of their team, know the impact that they can make, the value that they can create for themselves by playing well against good competition,” Saban said. “I’m extremely proud of these guys.
“We’re gonna support them in every way that we can. As an institution, we’ve minimized the risk of them playing in the game by insuring them the best that we possibly can so that they’re not taking a big risk by playing – as much as you can, taking the risk out of it for them.
“I can’t tell you how much I respect them as competitors, guys that have been great teammates on this team, the leadership that they have given and shown and I think the leadership that they continue to show by playing in this game.”
After losses in the last two Sugar Bowl games that didn’t include national championship implications, this is an opportunity for Alabama to make a statement. This team has had other opportunities to deliver one but, in a lot of instances, failed to deliver one. I believe the first statement has already been made by players choosing to participate, however.
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