The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Saban can’t have it both ways with media
On the surface, Nick Saban looks like a football coach who’s only happy when he’s miserable.
While others might appreciate compliments and praise, he sees it as a detriment. He might have a point, to a certain extent. More on that later.
Or maybe he’s a victim of his program’s success.
Saban’s Crimson Tide have been so dominant for so long, anything less seems like a disappointment.
Saban took that viewpoint to task after Alabama’s 27-19 win over Texas A&M Oct. 7.
A reporter in the postgame news conference asked Saban about a few three and outs by his team in the first quarter. It blew a Saban fuse.
“We just didn’t play as well tonight, and you have to give them a lot of credit for it,” Saban told reporters. “I’m trying to get our players to listen to me instead of listening to you guys. All that stuff you write about how good we are, all that stuff they hear on ESPN, it’s like poison. It’s like taking poison. “Like rat poison.” This isn’t the first time Saban has lit into the media, but to blame it for coverage that is complimentary to his program’s success is laughable at best.
The question he barked out about — the slow start by the Alabama offense — was ironic because it was critical.
Therein lies the problem with Saban. He can’t have it both ways.
This isn’t the first time Saban went off on during a news conferences.
In August, before the Tide’s first game, he was asked about a sophomore linebacker. The answer tuned into this:
“Oh, I don’t know. You guys make all these predictions about everything, about guys who are going to be great players, that have been here for two years,” Saban told reporters. “Who’s gonna win all the games? I don’t even know why we play. Why do we even play? Why do we have practice? Why do we compete? Why do we coach guys? How they need to improve. I mean, you guys got all the answers to how guys are gonna be, what they’re gonna do. Sometimes I wonder … why do we play? Why do we even have practice? Because you guys have got all these conclusions already drawn about who’s what — how good they are, what they can do. So, why would you ask me? That’s what’s puzzling to me. Why would you ask me? I read stuff all the time. Like, ‘That’s nice to know. Where’d that come from?’ And then you ask me? But Christian Miller has done a nice job. He’s had a really good camp. He’s doing a good job. He had a lot of production points in the scrimmage so we’re really happy with the progress.”
Now in his 11th season at Alabama, Saban’s record is 125-19 — with six of those losses coming in his first season, 2007 — with four national championships.
With their play on the field, the Crimson Tide have earned all the accolades they receive from the media, plus the benefit of the doubt.
They’re 6-0 this season ranked No. 1 in the country. Just don’t point that out to Saban.
Top 10
1. Alabama 6-0 (1) 2. Clemson 6-0 (2) 3. Penn State 6-0 (4) 4. Georgia 6-0 (6) 5. TCU 5-0 (7) 6. Washington State 6-0 (9) 7. Washington 6-0 (10) 8. Oklahoma 4-1 (3) 9. Ohio State 5-1 (8) 10. USC 5-1 (NR) WATCH LIST » Auburn, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan, San Diego State
Top games to watch Oct. 13
• Clemson at Syracuse, 7 (ESPN)
• Washington State at California, 10:30 (ESPN)
Oct. 14
• Michigan at Indiana, noon (WEWS)
• Auburn at LSU, 3:30 (WOIO)
• Oklahoma vs. Texas, at Dallas, 3:30 (ESPN)
• Arkansas at Alabama, 7:15 (ESPN)
• Ohio State at Nebraska, 7:30 (Fox Sports 1)
• Utah at USC, 8 (WEWS)
Heisman watch
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
3. Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
4. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
5. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State