Saban blasts media for pumping up Tide
Nick Saban says he's not a happy camper.
Saban, a follower of Bobby Knight’s “every silver lining has a cloud” approach, ripped into reporters at a press conference in Tuscaloosa Wednesday because they’re not giving enough respect to this week’s opponent, Western Kentucky.
As quoted by several news outlets, Saban went off at his post-practice press conference.
“… when you people start writing stuff about people that we’re playing that doesn’t give them the proper respect, that’s not fair. It’s not fair to them, to their players who work hard. It’s not fair to our players, who need to respect them.
“There is so many more good things that you could write about that is happening around here, that people would be interested in. I’d love to see some of you do a little bit of research and figure it out. It would really do my heart good.
“We win one game, and I can’t believe what gets written. You know we did play two times in these neutral site games before, and we played horrible the next week because a lot of the same stuff happened. A lot of the same kind of stuff happened.”
In 2008, Alabama pasted Clemson 34-10 in the Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff, then struggled the next week to beat Tulane 20-6.
In 2009, Alabama beat Virginia Tech 34-24 in the Chick-Fil-A game; the next week they beat Florida International 40-14 after trailing 14-13 in the second quarter.
Saban is worried the same thing could happen Saturday against Western Kentucky, a 40-point underdog. He was asked about the common perception that teams generally improve dramatically between the first and second week of the season.
“Based on the way we practiced, and the way our attitude is around here, and what gets written about what’s going on and how everyone thinks, I would question if that is happening or not. I’m not a real happy camper right now.”
The Tide finished the 2008 season with consecutive losses to Florida and Utah, but went undefeated in 2009 to win the BCS Championship.
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177 comments Add your comment
Lion Heart
September 6th, 2012
8:09 am
Nick speaks the truth. I see a frustrating game and an ugly win for the Tide on Saturday.
Bubba
September 6th, 2012
8:12 am
Not a huge Nick Saban fan, but I can really appreciate these kind of comments from a high profile coach. He is right, no matter who they play, have SOME respect, no matter where they are from. They practice just as hard. Kudos Nick.
UFballer90's
September 6th, 2012
8:16 am
is he ever happy about anything? I like Bama ok, but man I despise this guy no matter where he is coaching!
Roundabout
September 6th, 2012
8:24 am
Can’t believe this crap is a main story line for AJC. All this drama over a ball game. Please people get a life!
UF.is.a.has.been
September 6th, 2012
8:27 am
UFballer is bitter because Saban is the best coach out there. It’s gonna be a long couple of years for you, UFballer…. Hahahahahahahahaha LOL LOL LOL
BamaFan
September 6th, 2012
8:28 am
UF Baller90’s: I bet you do hate Saban….just look at the scores of the Gators last 3 games vs Bama…
They were about like the Michigan game score……roll tide….
Bjohndawg
September 6th, 2012
8:29 am
When someone does not cheat, it is hard to argue with success.
Say you don’t like him but he gets the job done
and he and his staff are worth every penny to the tide
Vampire Bill
September 6th, 2012
8:32 am
Lets hope the dawgs improve between games 1 and 2 ???
Mike Geigerman
September 6th, 2012
8:33 am
Last time you weren’t a happy camper you abandoned a pro team with lies and deceptive talk.
The Miami Dolphins don’t wish you well. Nick
atlanta journal and constipation
September 6th, 2012
8:37 am
you are a rag
zombiewoof
September 6th, 2012
8:39 am
Everyone in Crimson knows who this message was directed towards…the players in Crimson. Word is that Coach isn’t happy with the efforts from the practice field this week. Thus, wants to put the brakes on all the sunshine pumping reporters. Just another part of the Process.
Hardhat
September 6th, 2012
8:41 am
I think Coach is doing a great job at coaching and the coach speak. Bama doesn’t really worry about WK but I am sure it goes back to the Ga Southern game last year. They certainly didn’t expect Ga Southern to play that well for that long. Ga Southern I guess doesn’t read the papers or the point spreads. As we all know Ga Southern score more points on Bama in one game than LSU did in two!
dawgfan
September 6th, 2012
8:42 am
“…is he ever happy about anything?”
Probably not. That’s why he’s the most bad azz coach in all of college football. As Herbstreit said during the Michigan game after Saban lit his center’s azz up late in the game for a delay of game penalty, “he doesn’t see 41-14 on the scoreboard.” He was still making sure that everyone was doing their jobs. Every other team in the nation wishes they had a coach with that kind of focus and intensity. I sure do.
Thanks.
Class of '98
September 6th, 2012
8:45 am
He is a great coach, but my gosh what a douchebag.
agreeWgatorboy
September 6th, 2012
8:45 am
and I hate uf and bama! But Saban is a pos as a person! Maybe a great coach, but a scumbag kinda guy. I can’t wish anything for this guy but misery on a daily basis. He cares about nothing but himself.
RMFT
September 6th, 2012
8:58 am
If Saban only cared about himself he wouldn’t have the highest graduation rate of football players over the last 5 years. Maybe if Mark Richt really cared about his players he get them out of the streets at night and get them of the sticky icky. That is the difference between the two coaches, maybe if Richt new what the word discipline meant his team would have it on and off the field.
RMFT
September 6th, 2012
8:59 am
If Saban only cared about himself he wouldn’t have the highest graduation rate of football players over the last 5 years. Maybe if Mark Richt really cared about his players he get them out of the streets at night and get them of the sticky icky. That is the difference between the two coaches, maybe if Richt knew what the word discipline meant his team would have it on and off the field.
RollTide1
September 6th, 2012
8:59 am
We own the SEC and ALL of you know it! And there is absolutely nothing any team can do about it. Except maybe try to beat us…LOL!!! Good luck with that and enjoy your meaningless seasons,ALL of ya.
Oregonian
September 6th, 2012
9:00 am
Little Napoleon and his merry band of mullet nation fans.
Round the hole and down the bowl, roll tahd rolllllllllllllllllllllll
Big Dawg
September 6th, 2012
9:05 am
I have coach envy
Renee
September 6th, 2012
9:07 am
RMFT, I couldn’t agree with you more. RollTide1, attitudes like yours are the reason people hate Bammers…get a little humility will you. Winning with dignity is much more appealing than just being a “be-hind.”
Bamagirl
September 6th, 2012
9:10 am
I’m with Roundabout – why in the WORLD is this in AJC? I love my team and coach, but the Atlanta press is more pre-occupied with discrediting Alabama than crediting their own teams over here. Why not talk about Georgia-Missouri coming up? That’s a big game. Or Georgia Tech? You don’t see the Alabama papers talking about Georgia teams. We’re too busy reporting on our own – Alabama, Auburn, Troy, UAB, etc. Go find something else to write about in your own backyard!
Bama Bill
September 6th, 2012
9:11 am
Those daily after practice press conferences are much to do about nothing – the questions are lame, the responses dull and often times rude and far too much is made of little to nothing – Fact is that a few of the noncompetitive games on Bama’s ( and most every other Team’s) should not be allowed. They are nothing but fillers and payday for a beating for the opponents. I am confident that Bama Football is in good hands and the team will respond with another solid outing.
Moreno Stafford
September 6th, 2012
9:12 am
What is Saban’s record coming out of a blackout game?
DaWgPoUnD4
September 6th, 2012
9:13 am
Rolltide1…Really? Are you 12? You are correct, Bama is the best damn team in the SEC if not the nation. All it takes is for one bad game and then you not the best, its gone and you will have to feel like a dill hole cause you ran your mouth before the season was said and done. Its cool to defend your team but just running your mouth makes you look stupid. Saban is one of the best ncaa coaches of all time. He is what every football coach should strive to be like. He builds character in talented young men. I don’t care what he is like off the field, I judge coaches on their on field performance.
DaWgPoUnD4
September 6th, 2012
9:13 am
Oh, and go DAWGS!
D man
September 6th, 2012
9:14 am
Good points from Nick. He sounds like Vince Dooley used to sound before playing anybody. They were always a great team that could beat the Dawgs even if it was Savanah State. Good coach move…
Soccer Ref
September 6th, 2012
9:16 am
SABAN HAS A HEART?
WHO KNEW?
REALMANOFGENIUS
September 6th, 2012
9:17 am
Very few REAL men in sports world like Saban who keeps it real. In other words, shut the FiretrUCK UP and just watch the dayum game! And when did the football world both College and Professional need all these women to lead the shows? Like they REALLY KNOW football?! Enjoy game 2.
bill
September 6th, 2012
9:18 am
Nick Saban is all about himself. Does he really think he can tell the media what to do? No. He knows better than that. He is just wanting attention. What a little prick.
The Bear
September 6th, 2012
9:19 am
Well said Nick!
RollTide1
September 6th, 2012
9:24 am
Just speaking the truth! OOOoooo, The blackout game, I remember that one, we about destroyed your beautiful campus along with your team that night. Nothing has ever been better, well maybe taking the heart out of a Florida program that has never been the same since 12/5/09.
Prometheus
September 6th, 2012
9:26 am
I’m usually neutral re Saban, but I thought this tirade was incoherent and juvenile. Saban appears to me to be a jerk and a bully, and extremely manipulating. He would not last long working with a group of mature, sophisticated adults. And, people who praise his persona are nuts.
no
September 6th, 2012
9:26 am
Did Saban really say “I’m not a happy camper?” What a “girlieman” thing to say……
Huh? = Dumba-s & Roll Tide = Dumber
September 6th, 2012
9:28 am
Who care what Saban says.
Whiskey Breath
September 6th, 2012
9:31 am
Saban can get ticked off anytime he feels like it. If he doesn’t, we will be a laxed team
like Ga. We can’t win anything as long as he is layed back and could care less. Then he would
be like that zipper head coach.
MK
September 6th, 2012
9:35 am
RollTide1, you just proved everyone’s point of what a classless place Alabama is.
Whiskey Breath
September 6th, 2012
9:36 am
You mutts are going to blow that Mo game. Mark it down.
Richt is not going to have the team prepared and will be more
interested in looking cool for the national audience.
That is his priority. You have a way of blowing september
road games.
theStateofAL
September 6th, 2012
9:37 am
Does it really matter what these people say in Alabama? Football and hunting are all those poor folks live for and the ignorance in that state is off the charts. Hillbillies and meth = 95% of AL.
zbulldawg
September 6th, 2012
9:37 am
The reporters do need to put more out there. There’s no depht to their reporting. It’s like they are getting what they think is facts off tweets. Any body can stand there & say somebody in Blah Blah tweeded Blah Blah BIG DEAL !!! How about enlighten me on some depht about players, places & things. In stead of these one liners. Just like this : after UGA’s game They reported Crowell tweeted Way to go bah. Who gives a grap.I’ve written to AJC to make your reporters do their job. I agree with Saban ALL these young men put in ALOT hard work !!! SO reporters need to get off their lazy butts & put some work into their jobs. We the fans don’t want to read about your tweets & headliners . Just some plain ole FACTS.
Wow
September 6th, 2012
9:37 am
Not a Tide fan but this is the kind of coach you need who takes no crap.
Chi Town
September 6th, 2012
9:39 am
Everyone on here needs to show some respect for Lord Saban.
Charlie
September 6th, 2012
9:40 am
Usual self-serving rant by a jerk. This isn’t about respect for the other program. This is about not looking bad if his team is a little flat this weekend.
Okay, Bama. We get it. You are Bama. You’re great. You have ten million championships. You split the atom and brought us world peace. Blah-blah-blah. Why can’t you guys just enjoy the fact that you have a great football team and tradition without beating everybody else down?
You’re just a bunch of haughty bullies and your day is on its way.
Prometheus
September 6th, 2012
9:44 am
Jim Grobe would win at Bama as well, but you’d never hear him acting so contrary and juvenile. Why can’t coaches act grownup?
@ chitown
September 6th, 2012
9:46 am
you got it bro! Lord Saban. It is an “ala football world” so glad the rest of us just get to live in it.
SAL
September 6th, 2012
9:48 am
@MK – RollTide1 does not represent every Alabama fan. I remember when I was a student at Alabama (during the Dumbose years) when everyone was very humble.
Whiskey Breath
September 6th, 2012
9:48 am
Listen you dumb butts. Georgia and Alabama basically have the same type of people.
How the hell do I know? I am a native Atlantan. Half my family lives in Alabama.
The only difference is Atlanta has the media. Same rednecks, aholes like anywhere else.
We Georgians think by birthrite, we are better than the surrounding states. We are the same,
just a lot bigger populaton. Sorry!
SECFan
September 6th, 2012
9:49 am
UFBaller90’s,Bill,Oregonian,agreeWgatorboy,Cass of ‘98,and MikeGeigerman, you guys take coach envy to the highest level. I really enjoyed reading your comments, it’s great entertainment for a Thursday morning!
sheri
September 6th, 2012
9:59 am
Amen! You are sooooooo right in what you said.
Mike
September 6th, 2012
10:00 am
Winning and the accolades is certainly a tough thing to have …