Tyler Booker fiercely calls out Nick Saban for snubbing Alabama - “I'm not going to let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel”

Alabama's offensive lineup Tyler Booker took a jab at Nick Saban during SEC Media Days on July 17. Booker took a page out of Saban's book to aim at the former coach’s prediction that the Crimson Tide won’t make it to the SEC Championship Game in the 2024 season.

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“Coach Saban always taught me not to pay attention to external voices,” Booker said. “He always used to say, ‘Don’t let some guy that lives in their mom’s basement determine how you feel.’

“So I’m not gonna let some guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel. He’s an external factor now. He works at the stadium, not the facility.”

Saban is settling into his new role as an analyst for ESPN. On Monday’s episode of "SEC Now," the former Alabama coach predicted that Georgia and Texas would face off for the SEC title, leaving his former team out of contention. However, he did say that Alabama is capable of playing against any team once they shore up the weaknesses on the current team.

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“I believe in our Alabama team, too. I believe in Jalen Milroe. But until those question marks in the secondary get resolved, it’s hard to jump on that bandwagon,” Saban said.

Georgia was a safe bet for Saban, as Kirby Smart's team has contended for the conference title in six of the last seven seasons. On the other hand, Texas is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance and looks motivated under Steve Sarkisian.

Tyler Booker feels optimistic about Alabama's 2024 season

Alabama offensive lineman expressed optimism about the Crimson Tide's 2024 season during SEC Media Days. Representing Alabama alongside coach Kalen DeBoer and teammates Jalen Milroe and Malachi Moore, Tyler Booker emphasized a renewed focus on improving pass protection skills.

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“We fell short when it came to the passing game," Booker said. "Now we have some new guys on the offensive line, and we are honing in on those pass protection skills."

The Crimson Tide have undergone significant changes after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the playoffs earlier this year, with the most notable being Nick Saban’s retirement. However, Booker made it clear that Alabama’s core philosophy remains unchanged.

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“Our mindset is still the same,” he continued. “We want to go out and dominate. We still want to make people quit, and that’s never going to change. That’s a part of being at the University of Alabama.”

Tyler Booker is undeterred by external opinions and is focused on internal goals. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Alabama adapt after 17 long years under Nick Saban’s tutelage.

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