Why is Bama so feared? Because its coach scares us to death
The cult of Nick congregates in the lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Hoover, Ala. – Alabama was the choice of the assembled media here to win the 2011 SEC championship, which was no shock. Everybody exalts Alabama nowadays. It was in January 2010, after the Crimson Tide won the first of what would be one consecutive BCS title, that Sports Illustrated proclaimed it “a dynasty,” and it was only last fall we were wondering if Bama was unbeatable.
Then it lost to South Carolina, to LSU and to Auburn (after leading 24-0 in Tuscaloosa), and suddenly we media folks were grasping: How did the program newly seen as the nation’s flagship finish in the bottom half of the SEC West? Didn’t another school from Alabama take the BCS title? Was it possible the dynastic Tide had been overblown?
Guess not. Because we media types are doing it again. The Tide figures to start the season ranked no worse than No. 2 (behind Oklahoma and nobody else) in the polls, and in the conference-sanctioned balloting for SEC champ it drew 62.4 percent of the 157 votes cast. This despite losing four first-round NFL draftees (Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter and Mark Ingram) and starting quarterback Greg McElroy.
Asked Friday about this apparent incongruity, Alabama’s coach said: “From a logical standpoint, I know there’s a couple other teams in our division — forget about the league — that have just as many returning starters and their quarterback. So even though [sarcasm alert] I have a tremendous amount of respect for the intelligence level and your ability to prognosticate … I don’t understand how you come to the decisions you do.”
The answer, this correspondent of limited intellect would submit, has to do with Alabama’s coach. Nick Saban is considered the best collegiate coach now working by as great a distance as Dwight Howard is regarded as the NBA’s top center. Saban has won BCS titles at different SEC outposts, which proved his black magic was transferable. And it isn’t so much that folks believe Saban is smarter than everyone else but that we know he’ll work his 30-hour days until he figures things out.
Alabama fans are difficult to please — a guy bearing an ursine nickname won pretty big in Tuscaloosa — but they’ve venerated Saban from the moment he arrived. Indeed, a cult of personality has arisen around this coach, and that’s something you don’t often see in SEC football. There was one surrounding Paul W. Bryant and also about Steve Spurrier (though he qualified as an Evil Genius only at Florida), but Vince Dooley (six SEC titles, one national championship) and Urban Meyer (two BCS titles) never had one.
With Saban, it’s really a cult of impersonality. Sometimes it seems the sole difference between Saban and his near-namesake Satan is that the devil has a sense of humor. It was Saban who famously spent the press briefing after Alabama’s breakthrough victory over No. 3-ranked Georgia in 2008 — the Tide led 31-0 after two quarters on the road — raging about how his team had been outscored by 20 points in the second half.
“I know I don’t look happy,” Saban said that night, “but I am.”
Saban never looks happy. The man is so driven you wonder how he hasn’t yet driven himself, and those who work under him, insane. He cracked one smile during his half-hour appearance before the print media Friday, and then only to make fun of Baton Rouge writer Glenn Guilbeau, whom Saban described as “a friend.” (Coach Satan has friends? Who knew?)
As odd as it sounds, the glowers have become Saban’s stock in trade. He appears to take football more seriously than anyone else in his industry, and this plays well in the South, where college football is taken most seriously, and in his state, which is mad for the game.
Another incongruity: The manically intense Saban spent a couple of minutes Friday suggesting that Auburn-Alabama rivalry has grown too intense. “We can be all be a little more respectful to each other and still have just as a fierce a competition on the field as we’ve ever had,” he said.
But that was it for moderation. Saban devoted most of his time to the boilerplate stuff — focus, commitment, all that jazz — and then he stalked away, the smell of sulfur in his wake. Gazing on him, we thought to ourselves, “What mortal can possibly stand against such fury?”
Les Miles, maybe?
By Mark Bradley
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391 comments Add your comment
JB
July 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Tide rising….I won’t let you off that easy. link it or prove it…In no way is Georgia anywhere close to Bama
on NCAA problems. I’m not talking about self reporting an errant Text, I’m talking probations. As they say in Missouri, show me.
Skitty Fritty
July 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Does this mean that Bama will lose 4 games this year?
Beast from the East
July 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm
JB,
I think he’s correct in regards to “major infractions”.
Buckeye
July 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm
We’ve beaten Michigan the last two years wearing Pro Combat. Give me tradition every time.
Gene Chizik
July 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm
I love Nick and I don’t mean Fairley. Coach Saban made the second half of last year’s game easy for me. Thanks again,
GC
Buckeye
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Who doesn’t fear Satan?
Catfish Suppa
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
that Saban sure got a purty mouth
Malzahn owns Saban
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Saban has a LOSING record to Auburn and and not held our offense below 450 yards the last two years! He is not a great defensive minds. He is a good defensive mind. He loses with a 24 point lead? at home?and people think he is great? cmon. Malzahn will hang 500 yards on him AGAIN this year and extend the leprechaun’s losing streak
WDE
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
We Deny Everything
Tide Rising
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Beast of the east,
I agree. Nobody should be feared. But every major program in the sec should be respected. I don’t know what it is but Saban does have somewhat of a mystique about him and respect bordering on fear. Like many other perceptions its media driven.
Tree Hugger
July 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm
I know why Bama is so feared. If you don’t agree with them, they will destroy all our trees!
SABAN > Rest of SEC
July 22nd, 2011
2:55 pm
Compared to Tuscaloosa, Athens equals manure.
BAMA dude
July 22nd, 2011
2:55 pm
Here you go, JB. UGA is tied with several others for 9th in the “Cheating Hall of Fame.” Bama ain’t there. Read ‘em and weep.
cantondawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm
I posted last year that i though Bama would lose 3 games and was blasted by people..Write this down, Bama will lose at least 3 games this year. Saban is a great coach. He’s great at taking a mediocre program and instilling discipline and making them very good in a short time. However, His personality tends to wear thin on players in short order. He lost his best wr, rb and qb. If Trent Richardson gets hurt Bama will lose 4-5 games. He will go 9-4 this year and off to the NFL…BOOK IT DANO
JB
July 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm
Beast, I’m going to research it this weekend, if I’m wrong, I’ll owe the fine Gentlemen currently on probation in Bama an apology.
dawgfan0711
July 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm
the post on here are really immature. Sign up with 247 sports if you want to really have good football discussions instead of name calling and childish s**t!
Harvey Updyke Jr. - 1962 Alum
July 22nd, 2011
2:57 pm
Bama don’t cheat!
Bear Bryant
July 22nd, 2011
2:59 pm
So many immature posters, does anyone have a drink?
JB
July 22nd, 2011
2:59 pm
Thanks Bama dude…I won’t run, just apologize……
Tide Rising
July 22nd, 2011
3:01 pm
Mahlzahn,
You had your day in the sun last year. Next year you will be moving on to whatever new job opening comes up. Good coach but he will be moving on soon. And btw we have 9 players back on defense including several all americans and potentially 4 first round players on defense alone- Barron- projected top safety, Dre Kirkpatrick- projected top corner, Upshaw- jack linebacker, Hightower- inside linebacker. . Gonna be fun lining up against your offense this year that has all of 3 starters back including just 1 O-lineman and no Scam newton. Gonna be a feast in fact.
Russell Shepard Misses SEC Media Day Due To Housing Issue – SB Nation | The Wire
July 22nd, 2011
3:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Beast from the East
July 22nd, 2011
3:01 pm
You guys will find JB can dish it out and he can take it. He’s not the typical “thin-skinned Dawg”. Heck, he should be a Gator with that tough hide! LOL!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 22nd, 2011
3:02 pm
Bama is a good program, but I sure am going to have some fun. Its Friday boys lighten up…
Tossed Salad
July 22nd, 2011
3:02 pm
Truth hurts, huh Bama dude? Napoleon’s first and foremost a money-chasing hit-and-run artist. Good coach, though.
SABAN > Rest of SEC
July 22nd, 2011
3:02 pm
The FEAR Mark Richt has for Coach Nick forces him to pray so much more now.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 22nd, 2011
3:03 pm
Chizik better thank his lucky stars ole Gus didnt leave ‘Burn. He was the real genius behind that machine last year!
DaveDawg
July 22nd, 2011
3:05 pm
“Sometimes it seems the sole difference between Saban and his near-namesake Satan is that the devil has a sense of humor.”
OK, that’s an instant classic. Quote of the month.
Diogenes
July 22nd, 2011
3:07 pm
Dre Kirkpatrick- projected top corner?
Kirkpatrick is 3rd team SEC according to the Coaches’ poll. Just sayin’
Tide Rising
July 22nd, 2011
3:07 pm
tossed salad,
Bama is lucky to have LSU’s coach? I would have to agree that that probably is the dumbest comment of the year. I coulda sworn Les Miles was the coach at LSU. But if you prefer to call Saban LSU’s coach then have at it. I’m cool with that. Carry on sport!
BAMA dude
July 22nd, 2011
3:08 pm
Tossed Salad
July 22nd, 2011
3:02 pm
Truth hurts, huh Bama dude? Napoleon’s first and foremost a money-chasing hit-and-run artist. Good coach, though.
Whatever. Saban turns 60 this year and his daughter enters her junior year at the Capstone. Anyone who thinks he’s going anywhere besides Lake Burton whenever he leaves Bama is kidding themselves.
Tide Rising
July 22nd, 2011
3:11 pm
DIogenes,
Yes but I believe it was either Mel Kiper or the other pro scout that has him as the top corner pick for the 2012 draft. Not only that but they have him projected as the top Bama player to go and think he goes somewhere between 8 and 15. Its based not on his stats so far which have been good but not great but is based on his potential and his size and speed. You don’t see that many 6′2 or 6′3 corners that have great speed. Frankly I don’t understand how he can be rated so high and rated above the other bama players on the board like Trent Richardson or Mark Barron but he is.
DC
July 22nd, 2011
3:16 pm
chizik hired him….sooo….
Ramma Bama
July 22nd, 2011
3:18 pm
Saban’s going to get Bama’s 23rd SEC title in 2011 == mark it down! This bama team is loaded on both sides of the ball. Alabama beats south carolina easily in the SEC title game, then goes for national title #14!!
Bama is back!
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:24 pm
No one is scared of Nick Saban. Saban is 4-5 all-time vs. Auburn.
Auburn beat Bama 6 years in a row.
Bama has a losing record against Auburn since Bear Bryant left.
Suck it Bama retards.
McDawg
July 22nd, 2011
3:25 pm
no QB-might even come in 3rd
SuperB
July 22nd, 2011
3:25 pm
Apparently those teams tha tbeat Alabama last year aren’t as scared of them as you seem to be.
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm
Alabama – 2010 Preseason National Champs
Auburn – 2010 National Champs.
Gotta love the irony.
Trading Sy and Horford add: SF,Malcolm Thomas PF-C D/ Motiejunas, PF-C Jordan HIll, C- Hasheem Thabeet
July 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm
stick to football Mr. Bradley. Youre very good at it
Go Hawks!
The SEC fears Mark Richt
July 22nd, 2011
3:27 pm
Just kidding!
Tide Rising
July 22nd, 2011
3:29 pm
No qb? We had a 1st year starting qb when we won it all in 2009. Just sayin….
Whoa Nellie
July 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm
Gators to use Jeff Demps at FB???? How long will that last?
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm
“Compared to Tuscaloosa, Athens equals manure.”
This is why I love Bama fans. They’re the dumbest people in all of college football. I hate UGA football but Athens is pretty damn cool.
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:32 pm
“Yes but I believe it was either Mel Kiper or the other pro scout that has him as the top corner pick for the 2012 draft.”
Who cares about the 2012 draft. This time last year Mark Ingram was number one.
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:33 pm
“We had a 1st year starting qb when we won it all in 2009.”
So did Auburn and he destroyed the SEC.
First QB EVER to throw for over 2000 yards and rush for over 1000. He was also the first black QB to win the Heisman.
Al
July 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm
Alabama’s losses weren’t due to personnel. The staff was out-coached. Spurrier had a great game plan and his guys were motivated. Alabama stuck to its plan although it wasn’t working. LSU is always a tough game. Miles was innovative and had Alabama’s number. Saban had a good plan for Auburn. Auburn made adjustments in the second half while Alabama didn’t.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm
About as long as Saban has left in Alabama…. this year! Then he is taking his mercenary talents somewhere else. Then Bama is left to wonder what to do with the Statue of the great traitor!
SABAN > Rest of SEC
July 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm
For BAMA, the Georgia Bulldogs are the pit bulls of the SEC….
… and THE CRIMSON TIDE is the SEC’s “Michael Vick.”
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm
“This bama team is loaded on both sides of the ball.”
Yep, and then they actually have to win on the field. How’d that work out for you clowns last season?
28-27, tards.
UGA the Cubs of the south.
July 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm
Saban’s excuse for losing to Auburn.
Uh….uh….uh….uh…………
RTR
July 22nd, 2011
3:36 pm
Your tradition of mediocrity and the pride some of you take in it is laughable. UGA football will never measure up to the Tide on the field with Saban at the helm and will never measure up to the tradition off the field. When you guys lose 5 or 6 this year, remember this. And when the 2012 season starts, circle that Bama game. You will see what a football team should look like. Roll Tide!