Grant admonished Jacobs to play better...

grant challanges Jacobs to improve...
tide coach is concerned about his team's mental approach

         Rarely does Anthony Grant publically call out a player.  It is something that most coaches hate to do. The last time Grant did call out a player it became the Tony Mitchell Saga. We all know how that worked out. This time Grant did it a little different. He issued a public challenge.  He appealed to Jacob’s manhood. Everything that Grant said about Jacobs’s numbers being down is true.  Grant also talked about the practice habits of Jacobs as an individual. That’s a hard thing for a coach to do, and it says a lot about Grant’s state of mind for his team this season.  Desperation? Maybe it‘s not quite that bad but to shows the frustration Grant is feeling with this team.   He has every reason to be frustrated. This year’s edition of the Crimson Tide is going to take the Court with less talent and numbers than a lot of teams left on the schedule. Grant understands his team is not going to win all their remaining games. What he does understand is that players who don't put in the effort won't be hearing warm and fuzzy anymore this season. Grant expects this team to reflect his pesonality which is mental toughness, being unflappable, and giving your absolute best 100% of the game. Anything less than that is going to mean some pine time for his players.

         It would be easy to say this public admonition will make or break Jacobs.  A person’s psyche is a lot more complicated than that.  Nick Jacobs is a soft spoken young man. Sensitivity is not one of those observations you often see in a sports article.  Jacobs appears sensitive in a lot of ways off the court. That's fine with Grant as long as he's a beast on the floor. Jacobs is 6-8 and weighs 270 pounds. The coach expects him to play like the giant he appears to be.   Grant knows his players and what will motivate them. Some players can handle the pressure of knowing a lot rides on their individual play. Some players thrive on such pressure. I’m not sure about Jacobs. I suspect that Jacobs will come out and play with a lot of toughness and hustle.  That is Grant’s plan and probably his hope as well. It’s always a dangerous thing for a coach to issue such a challenge or however you choose to frame Grant’s words. Grant is clearly saying that without an improved Jacobs this team is going to be average at best. That's a lot of weight for one player to carry. I bet he responds with a good game.

     Alabama is long way from being a good team right now, but they are so close to being a great team next season.   You can only expect so much from any coach. Regardless of how Alabama got in this situation it is the situation we now find ourselves. Whether it was recruiting errors, injuries, or just a slump really doesn’t matter. We are where we are.  What Grant is trying to help his team do is recognize where they are but more importantly exactly who they are.  If Alabama can find their identity things will be better. This team may or may not end up in the NCAA. That’s not the problem at this time. They need to play as well as they can give considering their limitations.  That’s all any team can do. For this team it starts with hustle, defense, and pride.  Under Grant anything less is worthless.