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LOS ANGELES — Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele knew the question was coming, and he was ready.

So were the Crimson Tide’s defensive players at Friday’s media availability for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.

Steele, in his third stint working for Nick Saban, was asked whether his 72-year-old boss might be inclined to walk it off into retirement if he wins his next two games, beginning with Michigan on Monday, and captures his seventh national championship at Alabama.

“Wow,” a grinning Steele said with emphasis.

Steele, with 39 years of coaching experience, wasn’t about to wade blindly into that one, but he was quickly reminded by a reporter that that narrative was out there.

“I’ve heard it. So, yeah, it’s always going to be out there, and I will tell you this: Nobody knows that answer except for him,” Steele said.

The answer Steele does know is that Saban, in his 17th season at Alabama, never deviated from his renowned “process” earlier this season — after the home loss to Texas in Week 2 and the ugly road win over South Florida a week later — when media, fans and even some former players were suggesting that Alabama’s season was all but over and that perhaps Saban’s best days were behind him.

“I think people forget, and I’ve seen it, that he has an uncanny ability to know what each team needs, what each group of guys need and what each side of the ball needs,” Steele said. “And now, it’s expected that you’re going to win every game at Alabama, and when you have a game where you don’t win, then all the focus … well, it must be gone. The mystique must be gone [Steele said, pointing to a reporter]. That’s your word, and he has an uncanny ability to manage that.”

Alabama’s players said any talk of Saban retiring was probably rooted in other schools and fans hoping that might happen.

“He always says, ‘Why would I walk away, and do what?’ ” said senior defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, who arrived on Alabama’s campus in 2019. “It’s like the first day I came in. He’s still got the same fire and passion, and I truly believe him. I remember when I was getting recruited, people were saying that he was going to walk away, and he still hasn’t.”

Any time a coach reaches his 70s, the retirement discussion is going to invariably surface, but Saban has always been one to live in the moment. That’s certainly not going to change now with the stage as big as ever.

“I’ve always said that if you’re thinking about retirement, you’re probably already retired, and I’m not there yet,” Saban told ESPN last month.

Saban’s remarkable consistency can be defined in many ways, but right up there at the top is that Alabama has never gone more than two years without winning a national championship since he was hired in 2007. The Tide have a chance to continue that streak this season.

Junior outside linebacker Dallas Turner, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, said Saban’s steadiness and belief in the team after the shaky play early in the season set the tone for Alabama’s 11-game streak.

“It always hurts losing, especially at home, but honestly there was never really any panic,” Turner said. “It was just like a moment where we just had to tighten up as a defense, had to get things right, and it was a reevaluating moment for us as a team.”

Turner said anyone suggesting at that point that Saban had lost his edge as a coach was woefully out of touch.

“A lot of those people saying that never played football before, but it is what it is. People talk,” Turner said.

Steele, who has known Saban since 1985, said Saban probably did his best work in keeping everybody in the program grounded and focused after the Crimson Tide started to have some success following their slow start.

“People don’t understand the process. It’s the same every Sunday [after games] whether we win by 40 or if we had a hiccup,” Steele said. “It’s all about the technical improvement of the players, and so it really wasn’t any different. I mean, we’re not a staff that comes in and wins by 40 and everybody’s sitting around eating doughnuts and drinking coffee and laughing and we start the meeting 40 minutes late just because we had a big win.

“I mean, Sundays at the University of Alabama, that’s gone. The 24-hour rule … that’s over.”

So no ranting from Saban after that Texas loss?

“I wouldn’t say ranting. That’s not correct, but stern instruction,” Steele said, smiling.

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Tigers place pitcher Jobe (elbow) on 15-day IL

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Tigers place pitcher Jobe (elbow) on 15-day IL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers placed pitcher Jackson Jobe on the 15-day injured list Friday because of a right elbow injury.

Jobe, a rookie right-hander, mentioned discomfort after leaving his last start, against San Francisco on Wednesday. The injury was described as a Grade 1 right flexor strain, and the move was retroactive to Thursday.

“He reported that he had a little bit of soreness,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said before the MLB-leading Tigers opened a three-game series in Kansas City. “So we took him immediately to get evaluated. When the test came back and the doctors read it, they discovered this flexor strain.

“I try not to rush to any judgment until we see how his rest goes, and see how his rehab goes. We’ll listen to the doctors and the pitching coaches on that.”

The 22-year-old Jobe is 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts this season. He has 39 strikeouts and 27 walks in 49 innings.

Right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith was selected from Triple-A Toledo and will make his major league debut with the Tigers. To make room for Smith on the 40-man roster, right-hander Alex Cobb has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.

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Braves lose rookie Smith-Shawver to torn UCL

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Braves lose rookie Smith-Shawver to torn UCL

ATLANTA — Braves rookie right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, the team said Friday.

Smith-Shawver left Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader opener and said he felt a “pop.” The 22-year-old was initially placed on the 15-day injured list before being moved to the 60-day IL on Friday.

“(His evaluation) showed a tear on his imaging,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Atlanta opened a three-game series against Boston. “He’ll consult with the physicians or doctors and they’ll decide what the next step is.”

Snitker said he didn’t know if Smith-Shawver would need Tommy John surgery.

On Thursday, Smith-Shawver appeared to say “pop” toward Snitker after a third-inning pitch to Trea Turner. He gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Rafael Marchán, then took a 96.6 mph line drive off his right ankle on a a ball hit by Bryson Stott with one out.

Smith-Shawver threw a warmup pitch and stayed in the game, then left after wincing while allowing a flyout to Turner on the fourth pitch of the at-bat.

Smith-Shawver is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in nine starts and 44 1/3 innings, striking out 42 and walking 21.

“It’s tough for all (young pitchers) when it happens,” Snitker said. “Especially where he was, feeling good about himself and throwing good.”

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Phils’ Harper says elbow still sore, return uncertain

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Phils' Harper says elbow still sore, return uncertain

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper remains day-to-day as he continues to recover from a bruised right elbow, leaving his return to the lineup uncertain.

Harper was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider during the first inning Tuesday. Although X-rays indicated no fracture, Harper described his elbow as “still super sore” and has yet to resume swinging a bat.

“I’m not sure when I’m going to play again,” Harper said Friday before the Phillies opened a weekend series against Milwaukee. “It hit me in a pretty bad spot. I think the swelling has gone down, which is good, but like I said, it’s a really tough spot where he got me. I just want to be smart about it, too.”

Harper’s elbow, which underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, remains a sensitive area. In light of the injury, Harper plans to wear a protective guard on his right elbow upon his return.

“It’s really hard to find braces that feel good, that don’t feel as bulky,” Harper said. “I haven’t really worn them my whole career. I have here and there, just to feel it. I did in spring training this year because of this reason. I didn’t like the way it felt.”

Despite the setback, the two-time National League MVP emphasized that he does not believe Strider’s pitch was intentional.

“Obviously there was no intent on it,” Harper said. “He’s a competitive guy, a really good pitcher.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson echoed Harper’s sentiments, stating that he doesn’t expect Harper to land on the injured list.

“We’ll have to see [when he can return],” Thomson said. “We have to get the swelling out and him be pain free, or close to it.”

Harper took ground balls and fielded throws at first base before Friday’s game, but he didn’t throw any balls or swing a bat.

Harper is hitting .267 with 8 homers and 33 RBIs in 54 games this season. Alec Bohm has shifted from third base to first base to replace Harper. Edmundo Sosa has taken over at third.

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