Around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Alabama wide receiver Kenny Bell was adding a name to his title: former.
Bell, a father of two, thought it best for his life to announce his retirement from college football to focus on his children: an intention he made very clear through his Twitter account.
..I know I'm going to lose so many friends and followers and get more negative talk from people but truth is I Dnt care
— Kenny Bell (@TheKennyBell7) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/thekennybell7/status/374967670136770560
..time too focus on my responsibilities MY kiDS
— Kenny Bell (@TheKennyBell7) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/thekennybell7/status/374968875420372992
The decision, that seemingly came out of nowhere, was met with support by hundreds if not thousands on Twitter, including former and current teammates.
Respect my brother decision, love ya bro tell the fam I said what's up, hit me up if u need something @TheKennyBell7
— De'Quan Menzie (@menzie24) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/jccastille/status/375020741022220288
https://twitter.com/liner_25/status/374968053748228096
What the decision was not, however, was unanimous. Bell expressed a different sentiment in more than one meeting with head coach Nick Saban, as if to suggest his time with the Crimson Tide has not ended just yet.
“Kenny Bell I gave a personal day to today,” Saban said. “He should be back to practice tomorrow. Kenny’s a fifth-year senior. He’s done a great job in this program. He’s played a lot of good football for us. He’s made a lot of big plays. He’s been a good teammate to a lot of guys on the team and certainly somebody that I have a tremendous amount of respect for as a competitor.
“Sometimes we have personal things that we need to get ironed out, and he had a day today to do that. There’s really nothing else to talk about when it comes to that.”
Saban went on to discuss the process of the matter a bit further, how things escalated to this point.
“Well, he came and we had a discussion,” Saban said. “And there was some personal things that he needed to iron out. And I think he talked to his family about it. I talked to his mom. We talked again today.
“So, you know, I want Kenny to be happy. I would love him to be a part of the team. If he can be happy doing that, relative to any other personal responsibilities that he has.”
The saga (for now) ended around 8:30 p.m. the next night, just a few hours later, when Bell tweeted that he is returning to the team.
I'm back with the team!! Just needed time to myself for a day but I couldn't leave my boy @10AJMcCarron we ended this run together. #16
— Kenny Bell (@TheKennyBell7) September 4, 2013
Bell’s best friend on the team, quarterback AJ McCarron, was one of several to voice excitement for Bell’s return.
So glad one of my best friends I've ever had & will for life @TheKennyBell7 is back with me this season! Wouldn't be the same w/o him
— AJ McCarron (@10AJMcCarron) September 4, 2013
