Alabama Coach Nick Saban Visits Heritage Hall

Crimson Tide staff has been heavily recruiting Chargers running back Barry Sanders, Jr.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:01 pm

By: News On 6

Alabama Coach Nick Saban Visits Heritage Hall

Originally Published: Jan 5, 2011 3:26 PM CDT

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Oklahoma Sports Staff

OKLAHOMA CITY – Alabama coach Nick Saban was at Heritage Hall High School on Wednesday to visit with coaches, Heritage Hall athletic director Rod Warner confirmed.

Saban and his Alabama coaching staff have been heavily recruiting Heritage Hall running back Barry Sanders, Jr.

Sanders said in an interview with Oklahoma Sports in September that Alabama was in his top four schools and he had talked on the phone with Saban.

But on Wednesday, Sanders said he and Saban met face-to-face at Heritage Hall as Saban briefly greeted Sanders.

"(Heritage Hall coach Andy) Bogert texted me saying he was coming," Sanders said. "I happened to run into him and he seemed like a pretty good guy. It was cool."

Heritage Hall student Grant Hudiburg snapped the above photo of Sanders and Saban at around noon on Wednesday at the school.

Heritage Hall athletic director Rod Warner confirmed to Oklahoma Sports that Chargers coaches, including assistant Mark Adams, met with Saban.

Sanders has been rehabbing a strained ligament in his right foot. He suffered the injury in Week 6 during a win over Newcastle. He missed the next five games and returned against Bridge Creek.

After rushing for just 34 yards on 15 carries, coaches and training staff decided that Sanders would sit out the remainder of the season. Sanders said he had surgery the Monday before Christmas, and has to keep his leg elevated on an assisting scooter for two more weeks.

Alabama is coming off a 49-7 win against Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl, which Sanders said he had an opportunity to watch.

“It was impressive," he said. "I watched it probably for the first half. That was probably the most entertaining bowl game I saw. It was pretty cool they were able to get out there and compete.”

Oklahoma Sports will update the story as more details become available.