Some controversy started to rise in July, when it was reported that senior defensive back Maurice Smith was being denied his release from Alabama. Smith — who could have potentially started for the Tide — would be eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer.
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According to DawgNation.com, the reasoning behind that block may now be known: Smith wants to go to Georgia to reunite with Kirby Smart, but it looks like Nick Saban and the Tide are no allowing it.
From DawgNation's interview with Smith's mother, Samyra.
"He wants to go to Georgia. Period," Samyra Smith said on Tuesday night. "That's where he wants to go."
Samyra Smith said she met on Tuesday with Saban in his office in Tuscaloosa. Smith drove from Houston, Texas, on Tuesday morning for the meeting, which did not result in a resolution.
"The university is continuing to be resistant to any request to release my son. That's where we are," Samyra Smith said.
DawgNation notes that Smith's original intention was to transfer to Baylor, which is closer to his home. However, he changed his mind after the sexual assault scandal really broke out and head coach Art Briles was fired.
RELATED: Report: Another Baylor player has been arrested, this time for a frightening felony charge
While I understand not wanting your former players to go to rivals schools, this really does seem pointless by Alabama. Smith was going to have a chance to start this year, but otherwise, he rarely played in his tenure with the Crimson Tide. He's already graduated and he only has one year of eligibility left; just let him go. You don't even play Georgia this year!
Smith, a former four-star recruit, had 38 total tackles, five pass break ups, and two tackles for loss in his three-year career at Alabama.
