Jumbo Package: Saban says 2018 team lost its humility after beating LSU 29-0 in Baton Rouge

Happy Monday, everyone. As Roger already told you, the baseball team took one of three in Auburn, and CB recapped softball’s resounding sweep of LSU that not only clinches the regular season SEC title and top tournament seed, but also keeps with the tradition of Alabama beating the snot out of LSU in sports where their head coach was not caught purchasing players by the FBI.

Speaking of LSU, Coach Saban told Greg McElroy that he believes that game to be the turning point of last season, and not for the better.

“From the LSU game on last year, I (think) we lost our humility, which can create a little complacency and a blatant disregard for doing what’s right,” Saban said.

“We had a lot of internal distractions from people in terms of, ‘Am I going out for the draft or am I taking another job?’ It was a little disappointing that we couldn’t keep it together. Obviously my responsibility is to keep everybody up to snuff in all those areas. But I think sometimes when you lose, people are much more willing to say, okay I’m going to look in the mirror now and what is the truth about what we did or didn’t do.”

I’ll leave you to speculate on which players and assistants were too torn about their personal futures to take care of the business at hand. If only Devin White would have played, perhaps our team could have kept its edge, eh?

Cecil Hurt is already looking ahead to LSU’s revenge game in Red Stick next year, because the odds that they win in Tuscaloosa this year are somewhere around LOL barring unforeseen calamity.

The 2019 season (when the game is in Tuscaloosa) is the immediate issue. But when the Crimson Tide football team comes back, it will presumably be with a new quarterback and a largely revamped offensive team and the regular-season crossover game with Georgia earlier in the season. Meanwhile, LSU seems to have redoubled its recruiting efforts, moving beyond the borders of Louisiana (and the annual battles with Nick Saban) to a more national approach, determined not to let Clemson and Alabama pull away in terms of talent.

LSU does have a stellar recruiting class thus far, but:

1. They will also be breaking in a new QB in 2020 as Joe Burrow will be gone, and I will take Taulia Tagovailoa over Myles Brennan every day of the week
2. Odds are that they still won’t finish higher than Alabama in 2020 recruiting, and most importantly,
3. Saban hasn’t decided which of their current commits he will allow them to keep.

Those drunks will certainly be as vile and vulgar as ever, though.

Christian Miller is disappointed that he couldn’t help against Clemson, but he is looking forward to the next chapter.

“Obviously, I wish we could have ended the season in a different manner, but all the hard work paid off. I had to develop a little bit after having a role with the team in other ways -- special teams and rotating in helping with pass rush -- and then when I did have my opportunity, I got injured. But I was able to come back and help win a championship that year and then put it all together.”

Miller starts work with the Panthers on May 10, when Carolina opens its three-day rookie minicamp.

“I’m just getting started,” Miller said. “I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface yet, and I feel like my best football is ahead of me.”

Miller has better than fourth round talent, but multiple soft tissue injuries undoubtedly caused some concern for NFL front offices. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for him and the Carolina Panthers will have a steal. It’s a shame that a kid is essentially penalized for consistently battling adversity to be productive, but that’s the reality when teams are buying your on-field production for millions of dollars.

Damien Harris is stoked to be a New England Patriot.

The two-minute conversation I had with coach Belichick on the phone sounded very much like if I was on the phone with [Alabama] coach [Nick] Saban. Everybody knows their relationship, everybody knows they’re very similar in their demeanors, their coaching styles. They’re both about business and winning.

It’s an incredible honor. It’s a privilege to be a part of this organization. I’m very thankful Mr. Kraft, coach Belichick believe in me and gave me an opportunity to play for this great organization.

You never know, Damien may just follow Brady as the face of the franchise. He’s already more professional than half the league.

Eryk Anders has another fight scheduled.

Former Alabama football player Eryk Anders will return to the Octagon on June 29, when he squares off against Vinicius Moreira in a light-heavyweight fight as part of UFC Fight Night on ESPN.

The Anders-Moreira bout is on the undercard of a lineup headlined by a welterweight rematch between top contender Tyron Woodley and No. 10 contender Robbie Lawler.

Last, AJ McCarron made a little splash on the diamond in Houston.

An All-State baseball selection as well as an All-State football player at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, McCarron hit five over the fence in the home run derby to lead the first round. He and Watt, who hit four home runs, advanced to the final round, where Watt hit two and McCarron one.

AJ McCarron outshined Webb. That’s probably the first time anyone has ever written those words in that order.

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

Roll Tide.