Jumbo Package: Alabama finds new RB coach, Brett Favre weighs in on DeVonta Smith

Happy Monday, everyone. Alabama continued its development as a #BasketballSchool this weekend, as the men took down Mississippi State on Saturday to stay undefeated in the conference, and then the women beat the hell out of winless Auburn.

The ladies sit at 12-2, 5-2 in league play. The rest of the schedule is pretty daunting, with six ranked teams among the nine opponents left. Did I mention that Auburn has zero wins in SEC play? Just wanted to make sure.

In football news, Ohio State coach Ryan Day was pretty candid about the whipping served up by Alabama.

“First off, the gap is a lot closer now than if we had not played the season,” Day said, per 247 Sports. “If Alabama had gone through the whole season and we had not played, the gap would be hard to catch. I don’t think it’s that far off.

“That night, they were the better team. They beat us soundly. There are a lot of areas and a lot of things that led to that that we have to get addressed and get fixed to get to that point. They are a good team, but it’s more about us. With a great off-season, a great spring ball, a great preseason and a 12-game regular season and then a postseason leading into the game, I feel great. That’s always going to be our goal.”

He has a good point about playing, but still acknowledges that there is a gap. Neither of these teams are slowing down in the recruiting game, so they will undoubtedly meet again soon.

Saban found his new RB coach in North Carolina’s Robert Gillespie.

At North Carolina, Gillespie coached two All-ACC running backs this past season, including first-team selection Michael Carter. The 41-year old Mississippi native has also coached other standout running backs such as Alvin Kamara at Tennessee and Kendall Hunter at Oklahoma State.

Gillespie is pretty young yet and has an excellent track record. He should be a fine addition to the staff.

Of course, Gillespie is here because Charles Huff was hired to be Marshall’s next head coach, and on the way out he had glowing things to say about Saban and Alabama.

“Well, I think one of the many things — we could have a seven-hour press conference and we’d probably only get through the first thing I learned,” Huff said. “But I think what I’ve learned is the ability to sustain success and the ability to sustain success is through consistency and approach, consistency and message, consistency and work ethic.

“And when you look at the Alabama program, the one thing that a lot of people will recognize is the sustained success. And coach Saban has instilled that in me, of how to sustain success.

Best of luck to him.

Last, Brett Favre weighed in on who should be the #1 pick in the draft.

“I think you go with a guy like that,” Favre says. “Nothing against Trevor Lawrence but I think you can find a free agent guy or a guy in the latter rounds or mid-rounds in the draft.”

“But, you just don’t find a guy like a — this guy could be a Jerry Rice. He could be different. A Randy Moss. A total game-changer.”

Call me silly, but I too would take the guy who was clearly the best player in the country. Urban Meyer loves Trevor though, so look for him to end up in Jacksonville. Still, that’s some high praise from the Hall of Fame gunslinger.

That’s about it for today. Have a great week.

Roll Tide.