Nick Saban Dishes an Assist to Wendell Hudson

The Alabama women’s basketball team announced its 2012 signing class last week, but it was just recently head coach Wendell Hudson revealed he had some help from Alabama football coach Nick Saban.

“We took four players in there that we wanted to sign and they all wanted to meet him. Even on a Friday evening before a home game, he took 10-15 minutes with each set of kids and their parents” Hudson said.

Hudson knows firsthand just how important Alabama’s football tradition is in recruiting.  A prep basketball star from Birmingham in the late 1960’s, Hudson was recruited by a number of area schools. However, then Alabama basketball coach C.M. Newton had something special up his sleeve, arranging a meeting for Hudson with legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

“I met him when I was on my recruiting trip here; he would come in and talk to people the same exact way (as Nick Saban)” Hudson recalled.  Shortly after the meeting Hudson ended up signing with the Tide in 1969, finishing his college career as the 1973 SEC player-of-the-year.

From his firsthand knowledge, both as a player and coach,Hudson has understood the importance of embracing the Alabama football tradition rather than trying to fight it.

“That kind of presence and person you have seen on TV that has been so successful, it is a little bit different going in to visit with them”Hudson stated. “ I've experienced it as a player (with Bryant) and now I’m experiencing it as a coach (with Saban).”

The student athletes that have signed letters of intent with the University of Alabama include Courtney Hunter (Hoover, AL), Brooksie McGraw (Gainesville, FL), Kara Rawls (Hoover, AL) and Ashley Williams (Covington,GA).

While those who signed letters of intent last week will not be able to join the program until next fall, this year’s edition of the Alabama women’s basketball team will take on Southeast Louisiana Sunday at 2pm. The Crimson Tide Sports network Broadcast will air live on WTSK 790-AM Tuscaloosa.