After starting every game the past two seasons, Greg McElroy is no longer an option at quarterback for Alabama.
Thus, the question becomes: who will line up under center for the Tide when they open the season Sept. 3 against Kent State? Unfortunately, if you’re a Tide fan and curious and/or anxious about who the new signal caller will be, you might want to consider not holding your breath awaiting an answer from the head coach.
It’s widely expected that the competition will come down to two players -- AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims. Nick Saban said Friday that he will simply allow the fight for the starting job to play itself out rather than try to force a decision, regardless of how much focus and scrutiny the media gives to the position.
“I know that every press conference between now and whatever is going to be about the quarterback,” Saban said. “I’m not going to have a lot to say about it. This is something that you have to let happen and you have to let develop. Even though it may create a great news story every day it’s something that cannot be affected by anything other than what happened on the field.”
Saban also added that he would “appreciate it if we don’t” create a quarterback controversy, and that somebody’s “going to have to earn the job through their ability to manage the team, lead the team and make good choices and decisions that allows them to play winning football on the team.”
Based solely on experience, and at least at the start, McCarron would seem to have an edge entering spring practice over both Sims and true freshman Phillip Ely. Last season as a redshirt freshman, McCarron threw 48 passes -- completing 30 -- while Sims used his freshman season as a redshirt year.
Whether any edge McCarron may hold on the über-talented Sims will carry over into summer camp and then the regular season, though, remains to be seen.