Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving, and I Love Nick Saban

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Hope you have a good Turkey Day and enjoy your family.
Notice, I said "enjoy." Yes, I know that's not easy all the time... but they mean well. Some just don't know any better.

On to my thought for the day. Nick Saban. The man keeps Bama fans, and media folks, on our toes.

I don't envy Saban. He has one of the toughest jobs of anyone in the world. He's the head coach of the University of Alabama football team, for those of you who don't follow sports. He's caught flack from all directions this year, and he makes a zillion bucks, so he can handle it.

At the beginning of the season, Bama fans thought we'd win the National Championship this year. I didn't. Would've loved to see it happen, but I'm a realist.

Saban's not perfect. Neither is his team. He's trying to clean up a mess left behind by the last coaching staff, when I guess they ran around like hoodlums, as we are led to believe.
Saban's latest comments have some people in an uproar.
The Iron Bowl is this week, and we've lost our last two games to Mississippi State and Louisiana/Monroe, both of them at home. Not good. Not good at all. And the heat is on to beat, well, let me say "compete" against Auburn.
On Monday, Saban brought up two major events in American history, 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, in the same thought as Alabama's recent losing streak. He was trying to make a point that after those two things happened, America responded and came out stronger because of them. And, in turn, Bama would learn from its recent embarassments and do the same.
I watched the comments this morning (watch them here for yourself). I see what he meant. But others think the comments were too strong. Judge for yourself.
I don't expect a win against Auburn this weekend. I expect the hand, and a new thumb. (That means 6 losses in a row to our in-state rival). And I don't think the score will be close.
Are we not at rock bottom yet? God, I hope so. But Saban is trying to turn the Alabama football program around, and I think he's doing the right thing. He suspends players who don't follow the rules. I think he knows what he's doing.
The thing I love about Saban is he doesn't care what anyone else thinks. It's his way or the highway, and he's proving that. I'm glad I don't work for him... I couldn't handle it. But Alabama needs some stern leadership, and we've got it now. What's left of the old regime at the Capstone is learning that, and they might not be there much longer. GOOD.
No, Saban's not perfect. Some think he's supposed to be, because he makes more money than Oprah. Well, not that much. But let's have some faith in what he's trying to do.
Bama will ROLL again, maybe not this year or next. But we'll get there. I just hope our fans and alumni let Saban hang around long enough to prove he and the team can do it.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saban tells it like it is. As he indicated at the press conference, sugar coating it does no good. Saban has never been accused of sugar coating anything.
BOTTOM LINE: I think these kids on the team today do not realize that it is a PRIVILEGE to play college football, not their right. They had not been born when Bear died, so he is just a historical figure to them. I think the ones that don't care do not appreciate the privilege they have been given to play at the University of Alabama. This year's senior class has players that most will soon forget. They certainly have done nothing significant in their careers at UA other than get suspended for games.

Anonymous said...

Is Saban setting a fashion trend with the straw hat and the sweaters at the press conference? Don't get me wrong, as long as he doesn't look like the biggest slob in college football, AKA Charlie Weis, he can wear whatever he wants. Actually, I think the sweaters look nice. He probably gets sick of wearing red and white every day.