Bama's Leadership Council Votes to Skip Bowl Activites and Create a "Bubble"
Laura Rutledge of ESPN just reported that Bama's leadership council, made up of primarily upperclassmen, voted to skip their semifinal bowl activities, stay in the hotel, and watch film and practice for the week.
Most teams in most sports have leadership councils, usually at least one player from every class is on the council to represent her/his class. They help advise the head coach and provide a voice for the rest of the team.
Laura mentioned Will Anderson and the underclassmen all bought in because they won a national championship last year when everything was canceled, so they (reportedly) have no desire to participate in anything unrelated to Friday.
Thought this was relevant with all of the bowl cancelations, public outings, etc. that have dominated bowl headlines over the past week or two.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:43 PM ^
Sounds like a smart decision if the NCAA just lets you do that.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
NCAA has no say in it. They don't own the bowl games and they don't own the CFP.
December 29th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
Then it's a great idea.
December 29th, 2021 at 11:23 PM ^
Also, I think there was a news release earlier that specified that all pre-game stuff was voluntary for all playoff games, so that issue is specifically covered in the playoff policies.
It's smart. Particularly for Bama which has to concern itself with positives *next* week, too.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:54 PM ^
Sounds like textbook Alabama. Just all business, all the time.
Saban has that place not just playing like an NFL team, but acting like one too.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
What a strange comment. Seems like a bunch of responsible kids made a sound decision.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
How is it strange? As right as you are, players do learn leadership from their leaders; from the top, on down. And year after year. I suppose it's a chicken or the egg thing in a way. Not really a strange notion, though.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:28 PM ^
I’m intrigued by the notion Alabama’s players could only possibly make this decision due to Saban or “all business all the time.” The prior poster seemed to make a point that Alabama was taking draconian measures when in fact they seem like the most obvious measures to take in the here and now…I found the comment strange, and I respect Alabamas decision.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^
I don’t see how what I said at all reflected Alabama taking “draconian” measures. They know what’s at stake and the players are voluntarily willing to take additional measures to ensure they get it. This is not the coaching staff or administration coming down on the players and forcing them into these decisions.
They're winners. They’re champions. Decisions like these are a small reflection of that and why they win so much all the time. The culture Saban has built there is phenomenal.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:54 PM ^
Smart decision but a lot easier to make when you're there every year
December 29th, 2021 at 6:26 PM ^
Maybe I’m misreading your comment but if you’re there every year wouldn’t that give you more of an incentive not to go in a bubble?
Some might sit there and say “ehh fuck it we’ll be here next year anyway, let’s go party.”
December 29th, 2021 at 7:03 PM ^
If you get to party every Friday, you're more likely to skip the party one weekend than someone who has been waiting years to finally get invited to the party.
December 29th, 2021 at 8:15 PM ^
You are misreading it, if I'm in the playoff every year then I'll just do the pre-game bowling/Topgolf/Beach/whatever else next year when I get back or if you're a Junior/Senior you've already done all of that stuff previously.
Meaning a bubble isn't as big of a sacrifice for a team that's been there/will be back there vs the teams going for the first time that may want to partake in all of the pageantry & fun times put together by the bowl
December 29th, 2021 at 8:56 PM ^
A lot of solid comments in this sub and the one above. I agree with both sides of the discussion.
December 30th, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^
Core I think you and I are saying the same thing. Skipping a party is less of a sacrifice when you're invited every year.
December 29th, 2021 at 8:20 PM ^
That's the kind of decisions that get them there every year. The players are there to win, not have fun. That can happen after they've won.
Smart young men. Smarter than me at that age no doubt.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
They have been doing this all week. Masks everywhere, everyone in their own room, no visitors etc. Very smart, party all you want after the season.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:02 PM ^
It’s the smart thing to do. If you’re in the CFP you’re there with one goal: win. And that’s precisely what Bama has done better than anyone else in the country.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:15 PM ^
Sounds good and all but Slade Bolden (Starter for Alabama) also said today that he couldn’t recall the last time he was tested for covid
December 29th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
No one is testing anyone that is vaccinated and not symptomatic. Not saying it is right, but there is no incentive to do so.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
The limit of this thinking is that asymptomatic cases this week could become widespread (mildly) symptomatic cases next week, which is relevant for the winners playing in the championship game. Not that I am advocating for routine testing of asymptomatic now. There are really no good answers for Omicron. It's a tough situation.
December 29th, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
According to the data that the NFL has been gathering from their recent outbreaks, it isn't being spread by asymptomatic players. I think your comment is more about how asymptomatic cases can progress to be symptomatic, but from a spread point of view, it's the symptomatic guys you need to watch for.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:29 PM ^
Correct, there’s a reason why you won’t hear about any cases for the CFP, like it doesn’t exist for all those players but all other sports are effected.
But it’s smart because even if they don’t test, their players are at 100% and ready to go. Say Michigan has a couple dozen players at 80% because of all their activities, who is playing it smarter?
Just because they’re all in shape and young doesn’t mean they can’t / won’t be limited if sick.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
This makes complete sense to me. What activities is Michigan doing? I have been wondering all month what kind of practice and prep was happening as opposed to days off/leisure time.
To be clear: I trust the coaches to be ready but I haven’t seen much information. Certainly historically many people have complained about the delay from the OSU game to the Rose Bowl contributing to the team not performing optimally but in this day I can’t imagine that’s still an issue.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:23 PM ^
They’ve done all team related things nothing really with the public. They had a private boat thing a private beach event although Devin funchess was there. They haven’t really done much with public access. They’ve had fun but mitigated their exposure.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
Smart move by them. You get this far don’t want to miss a chance at an NC because you went bowling or to an amusement park. That stuff can be done another time
December 29th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Hope UM is doing something similar.
Don't get this far and fuck it up for a day at Disney or some other potential op to catch covid and/or distract. Stay focused on the task at hand gentlemen...continue to out work and out prepare the comp...fun and games later.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:57 PM ^
Definitely a good move by them. You can wander aimlessly about town any time after you either win or you're out really (come what may in the CFP, of course), but the priority has to be getting through the next two days and then on through the game.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:19 PM ^
Commitment to winning. See your family after with that ring
December 29th, 2021 at 8:50 PM ^
Nice that the 2nd place team gets a ring also.
December 29th, 2021 at 7:20 PM ^
Saban referring to himself as “The Leadership Council” is classic Saban.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:40 PM ^
Cleverly disguised as the "The Circle of Trust".
December 29th, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
Cynicism about bag men and the SEC's loose ethics aside, this is one of the legitimate reasons why 'Bama is 'Bama.
The culture of discipline and focus that Saban has been able to maintain in that program is truly remarkable.
December 29th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
Smart decision to go into lockdown...the game is only a few days away.
For any of the teams, it would be a brutal blow to not be able to play due to a guy who somehow gets exposed to it and then having the whole team go into the protocol
December 29th, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^
Staying at the Michigan team hotel. Some small amount of light mingling with the general public. The freaking adult autograph hounds hanging around the elevators are annoying.
Players are allowed to hang with family during down time. Pep Rally tomorrow but that should have distancing from the general public.
Feels risky but we’ll see.
December 30th, 2021 at 12:37 AM ^
I don’t necessarily agree that what Michigan is doing is risky. In reality, since the entire team and staff are vaccinated and boosted, even if one of the players contracts Covid, they would almost certainly be asymptomatic or have light cold symptoms. Keep in mind that none of the 4 teams in the playoffs is testing asymptomatic and vaccinated players. So unless some player self reports (real world, that’s not happening this week), nobody is missing the game. Not passing judgment as to whether that’s right or wrong, as it’s a polarizing topic, but that’s the reality. Even if a player comes down with some light symptoms, they are not reporting it this week. How else do you think that with the entire country having Covid, none of the 4 playoffs teams has had a single case (other than the rumor about Dax, and apparently the rumor is that he had to test bc he was a close contact of someone who did report a positive test). Again, no judgments, just reality.
December 30th, 2021 at 4:02 AM ^
Don't think its simply about 'light' symptoms because its impossible to know how light that might be and any symptom means not feeling your best going into this critical game. It also means potentially spreading it to others who will also not be at their best if they have any symptoms..light or otherwise. Why even take that chance?
And I'm sure the other 3 teams see what Bama is doing...that move sent a clear message to their potential competitors...we want this more.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:45 PM ^
There’s some cheating in there somewhere
December 29th, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^
As they should. Disappointed to see our team out mingling with the public, with no masks. It would be incredibly shitty to come this far, and then not be able to play Friday or in the NC.
December 30th, 2021 at 12:40 AM ^
As I said in response to another comment, nobody is going to miss a game over this. Why? The team (like the other playoff teams) is not testing asymptomatic players. So unless a player self report being sick, and then goes for a test, the entire team will be playing. Right or wrong, the reality is that the players know this and even if someone feels light symptoms (which is the most likely result given that they are all vaccinated and have had the booster), they will keep quiet until after the game.
December 29th, 2021 at 11:01 PM ^
As long as the “bowl activities” are safe, let the kids enjoy themselves. This is an awesome achievement at the end of the day.