Nick Saban’s father might have been a decent coach and a good man, but from the actions of his son, the elder Saban did little to instill inner discipline in his son.
Consistently flirting with every open coaching vacancy, telling lies reminiscent of the Iraqi Spokesman, and using slurs with the explanation he was merely passing along a story and that it was off the record shows the duplicity and stupidity of Mr. Saban.
Now in his role at Alabama, he is able to instill the positive message of lying and ethnic bashing to high school recruits. There will be no shortage of shortsighted parents who fall for the suave propaganda minister sporting the Alabama logo. He will ingratiate himself long enough to find another job. It’s not a stretch to call him Napoleon minus the strategic genius of the French Emperor. They have much in common, though Napoleon's integrity was stronger.
After his latest incident, one wonders if the University of Alabama cares who represents them. The answer is a firm and resounding no. Academics? They don’t need no stinkin’ academics at Alabama. Wins, SEC championships, and a national title; the university laid out their plan for success. The student athletes on the football team are not students under Saban. Like a mafia boss, Saban will reward the earners, those who perform on the field for they are the keys to his success.
A failure in the professional game, Saban understands his future is about winning big at Alabama for a future payday. Always the fair-haired lad, Saban will now contend with a hostile media, fans that see him as a liar and moral vacuum, and coaches who will use all of it to recruit against him. Despite that, Saban will win because the college game is much simpler than the NFL.
Sadly, the parents of his players, blind in their allegiance to the Alabama myth, will sacrifice their sons for Saban’s glory.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
So, Saban said the word "coonass" ...
Wow. Send him to the re-education camps!
2 - MBriz
Saban left LSU to try his hand in the league. Honestly, what coach wouldn't jump at a chance to hold supreme honors in the NFL? During this transition, he realized the lights, glitz, and glamour weren't suitable for he and his family. Thus, the next logical progression would be to regress back into what made him truly happy: College Football.
It sounds to me as if you're jaded and agitated that your program of choice can't come up with the capital to support a winning program. Honestly, if you think for a moment that all of college football will banish itself back to the "old days" with minimal pay, leather helmets, and pure heart, you're sadly mistaken.
Football is a business. Football supports itself as an independent entity in schools like Alabama. If the program and boosters generate enough money and wish to invest, I say that it's their money so it's their choice.
I'm a die hard fan of the game. I'll also admit, I'm a Bama fan as well. I find something seriously disturbing about remarks such as yours. I say this with all bias aside. For you to compare, even in jest, a collegiate football coach to any individual involved in the Iraq war makes all of your argument invalid, in my opinion.
My friend, you're the type that's harboring a great deal of animosity on a daily basis, this is obvious. Football is serious to many fans, but not this serious. Every coach, every person, everyone makes off-colour remarks now and then. Every coach, every person, everyone has the right and priveledge of changing his / her mind. This is the beauty of freedom.
So I leave you with this. Take a deep breath and relax. In the grand scheme of things, this is just a man doing what's best for him. It's a career move, if you will. For this to be a target of everyone's anger and frustration tells me, well... it tells me people are a little too uptight. The game and the administration behind the game has changed. My advice to you is to learn to live with it, or follow another sport.
Roll Tide Roll...
3 - Jimmy Vaughan
I think that its way past time to get off Nick Saban's back and let the man do his job. "Coonass",
I have several coonass friends that refer to themselves as "coonass" and appear to take it as a true compliment, WHAT"S THE PROBLEM???
4 - The Critic
Thanks for the comments. Will you feel the same way when he leaves Alabama to go somewhere else? No, you won't. He'll win at Alabama but not a title. Those days are gone for the Tide and the desperate attempt to recapture it by snagging a coach looking for a way out of the NFL speaks volumes about the Tide. Saban took advantage of the AD and the blind desire of the fans and like any good businessman he took you for your money.
Stick a fork in Alabama-it's done.
5 - Bama Mike
Nick Saban is being unjustly attacked by people with an agenda and or those who feel that he did not kiss their behinds. As My name states I also have an agenda. But after all that our program has gone through this is the first time in a long time that we can hold our heads up and look to a future with real expectations of success. You that keep grabbing at the manure straws to beat Coach Saban down need to take a rest. Here in Alabama where it matters you are not going to change a thing and Bama has never been done. With bad coaches we scare the hell out of all that we play. We still manage to win 10 game or better seasons because of a pride that comes with the territory. So keep up your writing and in a couple of years I will send this article I am saving so you can eat your words.
6 - Brad
"Stick a fork in Alabama-it's done."
As an Alabama fan, it doesn't bother me in the least when people say things like this... It'll only make things so much sweeter when the Tide is back on its feet.
7 - Clint
It's ridiculous to claim that Alabama doesn't care who represents them. If they didn't, the university would still have Mike Price as their coach.
8 - Footballfan
This article seems to based more on some sort of angry spitefullness than any kind of reality. How many people would stay at a job they might not have in 2 years when offered a job they could probably keep as long as they wanted? As far as the "slur", its not half as big a deal as everyone seems to be making it. It's no worse than being called a redneck here in Alabama (Which no one seems to care about). Sure some people are offended by it, but others stick signs on their trucks proclaiming thier redneck status with pride. To say that Alabama does not care about education shows lack of research. First off Alabama is consistantly ranked in the top 50 public universities in the country. While the graduation rate for football players has suffered in recent years, it is due in large part to transfers and problems stemming from the probation and multiple coaches. Nick Saban dramaticly improved football graduation rates on his watch at LSU as well as at Michigan State... Which would seem to indicate that Alabama does care about academics after all. Was it the 84 Academic All-SEC honorees during his tenure at LSU that gave you the impression that he doesnt care about academics? Also, in reference to his leaving in 5 years like he has everywhere else... Well, if he leaves Alabama like he left LSU, (with improved facilities, a powerhouse football program and a team that should have won the national title for the last 2 years) well... I think I can handle that.
9 - udumbass
LOL get a life!
10 - GREENIRISHMAN
As an Irish American and someone without an ax to grind with Alabama I can not believe the death and doom talk about Alabama. Will they win another NC. Yes. Will Coach Saban be on top in a couple of years. Again Yes. Why lie about it. In 2009 it will come down to Alabama and NOTRE DAME. It is apparent History repeats itself. Remember I am Irish first but as a child Coach Bryant made a believer out of me. Saban will do the same for the BAMA fans. Its been 25 years since Coach Bryant passed on. That program (Alabama)found a real leader. GO IRISH GO and ROLL TIDE ROLL. I have been waiting for a rematch for sometime. Its almost here. So please reframe for all the BAMA bashing and accept the truth.
11 - bama man
roll tide roll
12 - tidefan4life
Nick Saban wanted to escape the pressure of the NFL. Alabama wanted to buy a coach....Duh! Do the math. Saban don't care about Bama, The Kids, or the Football program. He cares about money. Period. End of Story. It has been obvious in the way he has coached the first four games. The kids were fired up to start the season and nothing has been done to keep them fired up. Wake up Bama! At least Mike Shula cared even if he wasn't the best coach. (I liked his coaching personally)
13 - conley
Saying Saban will ruin Bama football is a joke!! He is a business man like every shrewd business man is, making money and following his passion, coaching and winning. He is very good for college football. I live in Baton Rouge and he was GOD here until he left, then all of a sudden he was the lying devil. That is just the way the ball rolls and that is why he makes the big bucks. He went to the pros for the money, yes...but soon found out his heart wasn't in it, who cares...don't we all make decesions like that in our lives? Will he be in Bama for the rest of his career, probably not but that program will win some big games and WILL do some big things before the leaves. And I am not a Bama fan but know that was the best hire any college could have made. You give him 3-4 yrs of recruiting and coaching and you will see exactly what happened at LSU...from average to a great program AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!!
14 - tidefan4life
Conley, You apparently have not been been watching the same games I have. I predicted the way the game between Houston and Bama would go way before the opening kick off. Big lead in the 1st Quarter, then nothing. Play mediocre ball for the next two and a half quarters and fight like mad to hold on in the end and hope you win. Review the Arkansas game and the Georgia game. I am not a coach and don't know beans about football except that you have to motivate your team to play 4 quarters not just the 1st and 4th quarter. If Saban is such a great "God" as you so loosely put it then why isn't he smart enough to see that. I am a Bama fan and will support just about any coach we get regardless of his short comings, but will not support anyone that is just along for the ride and the money. Football Greats such as Joe Paterno, Phillip Fulmer, Bobby Bowden, Steve Spurrier, and Houston Nutt just to name a few have proven that you can be a great "Business man" without sacrificing your love for the game and the players. This is a Quality Nick Saban will never have. He is a good coach with plenty of knowledge of the game but doesn't have the desire to be great. I was a huge Saban fan when he was at L.S.U. but again, he went chasing the big bucks. It takes years to build a program that you can call your own. (such as Bowden, Paterno, or even "The Bear") Saban is just another Dennis Francione. BELIEVE ME, I HOPE I'M WRONG. BUT I KNOW I'M NOT.
15 - tidefan4life
I just watched Auburn beat Bama. I want to congratulate all of you Saban fans. This season you got the most expensive butt whipping in Alabama history. Where was all this great coaching ability at? Maybe Saban will resign (I HOPE SO!). If only we could only be that lucky.
Coach Francione resigned today. Maybe we could get him back. He screwed us too but at least he was a lot better coach than Saban.
I wonder who the Alumni will try to buy next? Tommy Tuberville?
Don't get me wrong, I am a Bama Fan from my heart. That is why I am so bitter. I hate to see us look so stupid when I know we are better than this!
16 - GreenIrishman
tidefan4life, son give it a break. Now I can not make you stop writing this crap but what Alabama Forum do you reside on? You bitter, and who the hell is us. The only one looking stupid is you. Put a sock in it stupid.
17 - tidefan4life
Thanks for your comment GreenIrishman. I really thought that with a name like GreenIrishman you would sign off with something like Go Notre Dame. I am a real Bama fan and have been for nearly 50 years. FYI "Us" stands for the University and the TRUE Bama fans. I thought these forums were here for us to say how we feel and personally I feel that NICK SABAN SUCKS! Now if this offends you then maybe I am in the right place after all because I am trying to get people like you to see what this fool is doing to the football program at Alabama. Nothing personal dude. Just stating the facts. With football season just a few weeks away we will soon see what a looser Saban really is.
18 - RT3413
Well, now that the first game is out of the way and we soundly beat a top 10 team in Clemson, that some say will win the ACC with a bunch of true freshmen starting I feel good. How about you? I know we have 11 more games to play, but I don't see us looking to "Ruined." I see us much improved.
Last season, is over. Saban did not recruit those players. It was not his fault we had a lack of depth etc etc etc.
Notre Dame fans, USC fans, Nebraska fans, Oklahoma fans, and other traditional powerhouses all stick together. We are like a secret society for which Alabama is a charter member of.
19 - RT3413
Also, his father is not the Saban you are thinking of ya dolt
20 - Bamafan78
He sure has! This blog is a joke!
21 - Matthew Ballard
HAHA what a good article...not well i mean you are right saying that he recruited a #1 class now Saban has us in the top 5 again on rivals.com and were ranked 2 in the country and on the way to a bcs title berth in his 2nd year..ruining Alabama Football..well i mean this obviously shows how much you know
22 - Alex
Well looks like you wrong lol Saban pulls 2 straight top 3 recruiting classes lol.He want win a title at alabama? his 2nd year he went to the SEC championship game and only lost 2 games all season. Like Kirk Herbstreit said "If you are going to beat Alabama, last year was the time to do it because from here on out Alabama is just going to get better. And you know that guy Julio Jones out there? Wait til they get 4 of him."
23 - The Critic Knows Nothing
This guy is just hates to see Alabama win...lol he is obviously a tenn, LSU, or Auburn fan lol
24 - GREENIRISHMAN
Wow Saban 12-2 in only his second year. Wow Saban had another #1 recruiting class. All I can say is this article about Saban ruinning Alabama Football was a Pipe Dream of someone afraid to put their name to the column. Why? Sure looks like a lot of Saban haters getting it shoved in their face. To bad people can not be honest to themselves or others. Must suck living a lie all the time. GO IRISH (I Pray) and ROLL TIDE ROLL.
25 - GREENIRISHMAN
Saban will get his National Title 2010 for sure. Alabama has a huge chance in 2009. All the haters will be sucking bad air after 2009 and 2010. That bad air is Saban's gas. Enjoy. You folks are getting fumes from the tailpipe. Look what Alabama and Saban are Cooking. Sucks lying to people about BAMA football.