This week’s brouhaha surrounding Alabama’s coach, Nick Saban, has to do with his decision to start and play Tua Tagovailoa in a meaningless game against The Citadel, a team that has already lost to Wofford, UT Chattanooga, Towson, East Tennessee State, and Furman. Tua is injured. He’s the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. He will likely be the top draft pick whenever he decides to enter the draft. His health could also affect Michigan football.
There are arguments to be made on both sides. We’ve seen players of great promise (Robert Griffin III) whose careers have been upended by injuries aggravated by playing when not fully recovered.