Saban still motivated to reward players’ hard work

Chasing titles never gets old for Nick Saban, no matter how often he wins them.

There’s no such thing as too routine or too stale when it comes to coaching football. At least not to the future Hall of Fame coach, who has five national championships and looks to add a sixth Monday night against Clemson. If Alabama wins, Saban will tie Crimson Tide legend Bear Bryant for the most titles.

Saban has reached the pinnacle of the sport again and again. He does it the same way each time. He preaches his process. He demands accountability. His weeks remain structured the same, win or lose. He remains the constant while elite recruits come in and out of his program, with many of them leaving as elite college players headed to the NFL.

So at this point, what motivates Saban? Why does the 65-year-old coach keep pushing himself through the grind of recruiting, the slog of the season and the stress of the postseason?

“I think that my motivation comes from the fact that this team and these players have worked really hard to create an opportunity for themselves, and as a coach, you want to do a great job for your players and your team,” Saban said this week on a teleconference. “Everybody is working together to try to put them in the best position to have a chance to be successful as people, as students and as players. That’s our challenge, and that’s what motivates us.”

As does the thrill of a close game, the importance of the right preparation and the adrenaline that comes with high-level competition.

This national title rematch with Clemson — Alabama won 45-40 a year ago — has all that.

“When you play an outstanding opponent, that’s something that’s in and of itself,” Saban said. “The competitor is motivation, and that’s the case in this game.”