TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After Alabama's first practice of fall camp Thursday, Nick Saban warned reporters: don't even try asking about the quarterbacks.
The three-way quarterback competition that Saban spoke about at SEC Media Days could be determined over the next four weeks of practice. Alabama's opener against Middle Tennessee State could be a proving ground for a potential starter.
Saban stressed patience during his media tour.
"Look: you're going to ask me about the quarterbacks every day," Saban began. "Every day I'm going to tell you the same thing: everybody's getting reps at the position.
"Somebody's got to take the bull by the horns. Somebody's got to separate themselves. When that happens, we'll tell you. Will be glad to tell you. When we're going to take the cake out of the oven, we're going to tell you when it's time. But until then, there's really nothing to talk about, nothing to say."
Saban reiterated his message to Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner as they compete for the job.
"Not a whole lot of sense in asking about [the competition], because we want all the guys when they're in there, you play the position like it's yours. Like it belongs to you," he said. "You're out there competing. You're not looking over your shoulder, you're not looking at what somebody else does. You're playing like you're the man. That's what we want each guy to do and see who can do that with the most consistency. So it's important.
"You've got to be processed-oriented. You can't be outcome-oriented right now, you've got to be process-oriented because that's what you want to help your players to have the kind of consistency is you need to play winning football at the position, which is ultimately what we're looking for."
24/7 Sports reported that Saban did answer a question about Buchner and what Alabama saw in the Notre Dame transfer who has an extensive background with new Tide and former Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
"The guy was injured last year, so he didn’t get as much experience. I think he started two games and played fairly well, so we got the opportunity to see that," Saban said. “Tommy knew the guy better than anybody could know him. I mean, he coached him for a couple years. ... I think you always know a player when you coach them. You know what his strengths. You know what he needs to improve on.
"I still think that [Buchner] is probably getting comfortable with the system. There’s some new terminology in it. And I think he’s probably still getting comfortable with the players around him because the other guys have been with those guys a little more. But I do think there’s really good competition at the position.”