A few weeks before Alabama opened spring practice, a story hit ESPN.com the morning of March 2.
"Alabama could play both Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa," read the headline above the story based on an exclusive one-on-one interview with Nick Saban. In it, the coach spelled out the opportunity both incumbent Jalen Hurts and challenger Tua Tagovailoa had to contribute in the Crimson Tide's title defense.
It would break from precedent from Saban's 11-year tenure at Alabama, but these are different days. That message was clear in the ESPN story published just as the spring practice hype was ramping up.