Alabama football coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide sideline offer support during Saturday night's 34-20 win at Tennessee.Alabama football coach Nick Saban, hailed as one of the most detail-oriented people in all of sports, admitted Tuesday to a lack of preparation.
In his only news conference during this week's open date, Saban said the Crimson Tide did not practice at all for Tennessee sophomore quarterback Josh Dobbs. Justin Worley and Nathan Peterman had been the only Volunteers quarterbacks who had played this season entering last Saturday night's game at Neyland Stadium, but Worley was hurt and Peterman was replaced by Dobbs after two series.
Dobbs completed 19 of 32 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed 19 times for 75 yards, helping the Vols rally from a 27-0 deficit to within 27-17 before the Crimson Tide won 34-20.
"What Tennessee did when Dobbs went in the game was nothing we had practiced," Saban said. "When we play these other teams, we know what they're going to do, and we practice those plays. We had no idea the guy was going to play until Thursday night, and credit them for keeping it that way.
"They basically ran a combination of Auburn and Mississippi State's offense, and everything we had practiced for they didn't do. It was poor preparation on our part, but at the same time you can't prepare for a ghost."
Saban also announced that redshirt freshman running back Tyren Jones is "suspended for now." Jones has rushed 22 times this season for 123 yards and a touchdown.
The Crimson Tide will practice again today and Thursday before taking the weekend off.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.