Alabama Star Reveals 'The Standard' Is Still Well and Alive Without Nick Saban

Every fan base around the country celebrated in January when Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired from the coaching business.

After 17 years of watching Saban's squads dominate the country, each opposing fan believed they would finally see the fall of the empire.

Without Saban, Alabama will lose relevance and supremacy. So each fan assumed.

But what if it wasn't just about Saban ? What if his culture was deeply rooted in the players and other program members? What if the standard he set continues?

Alabama guard Tyler Booker appeared on The Next Round Live show earlier this morning to affirm that the Crimson Tide will still be the same program that Saban ran for nearly two decades.

"Everyone thinks that with Coach Saban being gone, we're not going to be the same," Booker said in response to the critics. "But, like, the standard lives through us (the players) and that's what Coach Saban instilled in us my two years of being there (playing under Saban) and then some of the other guys on the team like (safety) Malachi (Moore) he's going into fifth year, (outside linebacker) Que Robinson, (defensive lineman) Tim Smith, so the standard lives on through us.

"Alabama football is still going to be played this Saturday at 6 p.m. nothing has changed about that aspect."

Booker, along with Moore, Robinson, Smith and other veterans of the program, have not only lived with a chip on their shoulder following the semifinal loss to Michigan last season but the added motivation from the retirement of Saban.

The 2024 version of Alabama is shaping up to be one of the most player led football teams in the country. Quarterback Jalen Milroe teams up with Booker on offense to lead that side of the ball under head coach Kalen DeBoer's system. Moore is the spearhead of the defensive group that should be out for blood playing in a more aggressive defensive system under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.

This is a group that owns a prove it mentality and that should provide endless amounts of entertainments for the Crimson Tide faithful.

Related: Kalen DeBoer Addresses Possibility Of Alabama Playing Overseas