This was posted by Rick Karle of WVTM TV in B'ham:
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to learn the inside story- a story that winds up with a happy ending.
One example is the story of Jalen Hurts’ transfer.
It’s the story of two men meeting face to face to share their respect for one another.
Two men searching for a happy ending.
Jalen Hurts had decided to leave Bama before the 2019 season, and he had his choices down to Maryland, Miami and Oklahoma.
Jalen was a bit confused.
He wanted advice.
Who did Jalen seek out?
Nick Saban, the coach he was leaving.
Coach Saban carefully listened as Jalen spilled his heart, and then the coach gave Jalen some advice. Coach Saban shared that advice this morning in an interview with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I remember him coming to me and saying, ‘I could go to Miami’ because the quarterback coach had gone to Miami as the offensive coordinator — the quarterback coach here, Dan Enos,” Saban said. “Mike Locksley got the head coaching job at Maryland. ‘I could go to Maryland or I could go to Oklahoma.’
“I said ‘Jalen, where do they have the best players?’ Because he felt more comfortable going where he knew these guys. And he said, ‘Well, I think they have the best players at Oklahoma.’ I said well, we just played them, and they have some pretty good players on offense, too. I said, ‘You know I’ve always told you quarterback is a hard position to play if you don’t have good players around you. So if I was you, to create the most value — because you’ve got one year to do it... if you know you can be the starter there, go where they have the best players.’ He did it and I think he did a great job for Oklahoma.”
Jalen Hurts transferred to Oklahoma at the counsel of the coach he was leaving, and he had a record-setting season with the Sooners.
That tells us all we need to know about Jalen Hurts.
That tells us all we need to know about Coach Saban.
Respect for one another.
Love for one another.
Two men of class and integrity.
Rather than ignoring his coach, the quarterback respected the coach enough to seek him out.
Rather than being mad, the head coach took the quarterback under his wing to help him find the best fit.
It doesn’t get any better than that.
And now you know the inside story- a story with a happy ending.