LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Alabama football visited Lexington to play Kentucky in 2013, a player both schools were then recruiting, John Hardin defensive lineman Matt Elam, was making an unofficial recruiting visit to UK.
As Elam stood near the Wildcats sideline with other Kentucky recruits during pregame warm-ups, I just happened to look down from the press box as an Alabama football assistant near midfield was making an effort to catch Elam’s eye.
Once he had succeeded, the Crimson Tide aide first pointed to the largely empty stands at the then-Commonwealth Stadium (as it turned out, what would be a sellout crowd of 69,873 was late arriving). Then, the Alabama coach raised his hand and flicked his wrist — as if shooting a basketball — a couple of times.
