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Nick Saban had never seen anything like it.
"I do not remember," he told his audience last November
. was used. A wave of injuries had compromised unity, forcing inexperienced reservists to take on larger roles during the Crimson Tide race at a national championship.
Some, including VanDarius Cowan, even had their red shirts removed.
Cowan was fired from the team for violating the team's rules, school announced Monday.
It would be irresponsible to characterize Cowan's loss as significant because of his limited contributions. He played only 22 snaps in 2017, and his checkered past made his future look like Alabama seems tenuous. But Cowan's withdrawal touches the depth of Alabama inside the linebacker, where he was training this spring after starting his career as a rusher.
Cowan's departure comes after Nick Saban said last month that he was not expecting to return to football after the fifth-year eldest chose to focus exclusively on baseball after the CFP title win over Georgia in January.
With Cowan and Holcombe out of the game, it does not leave much choice for Saban if the two contenders to the team, Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson, suffer any setback. Wilson and Moses, it should be noted, everyone suffered foot fractures last season. And this year, they will take on a much heavier workload after Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans graduate from the NFL out of season.
Behind Moses and Davis is a group of untested defenders – Josh McMillon, Markail Benton and yes, Ben Davis of Gordo.
Together, these three players were on the field for a combined total of 73 shots last season, many of which were not significant.
Thanks to the recruitment and development of players, Saban has long been able to protect his team against attacks. staff problems that paralyzed other programs. It accumulates talent, creating a safety net that has allowed Alabama to remain competitive through extended seasons that can last up to 15 games.
But because of a confluence of circumstances, including the irrecoverable cost of a scholarship to Cowan, Saban faces real worries inside the linebacker, where it goes without saying that It will rebadign players to cover losses at the position.
The contingency plan, undoubtedly, is already underway
And for now the rest of the college football world will wait to see it revealed by wondering if the mighty Alabama is a little less invincible 54 days before the kick off.
Rainer Sabin is a beat writer from Alabama for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @RainerSabin
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