Having been the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide for 17 years, one would have perhaps expected Nick Saban to have backed his former team in his predictions as an ESPN analyst when discussing how things may pan out in the upcoming college football season, turns out he did not, and this has led to a fair amount of gentle abuse from those connected with his former team.
Saban predicted the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns as SEC representatives in the title match-up, thereby ignoring the Crimson Tide, with the inevitable consequence of such a stance coming at quite a rate.
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Among those to have taken exception to Saban’s comments is Alabama guard Tyler Booker, who commented,
“(Saban) always said don’t let some guy who lives in his mom’s basement determine how you feel. I’m not going to let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel.” before playfully adding,
“Well something Coach Saban taught us whenever we speak to the media is to not concern ourselves with external factors and he doesn’t work in the facility anymore, he works in the stadium so he’s considered an external factor.” Booker concluded.
Clearly, for his part, Saban was hired by ESPN as a pundit and an analyst and, therefore, should not be siding with his former employers, so is, in many ways, damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
Saban was not entirely disparaging of his former team, noting,
“I believe in our Alabama team, too,”
“And I believe in [quarterback] Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary, until those get resolved, it’s hard to sort of jump on that bandwagon.”
Amusingly, his role in the media didn’t start well, not least because Saban left his key credentials in his hotel room on his media day debut,
“It’s a little different,”
“I’ve never worn a credential in my life and was always for 17 years able to get into SEC media day without a credential. I had to go back to the room today and get my credential to get in.” Saban added.
SEC Network host Peter Burns was full of praise for his new analyst team-mate,
“I’ve never seen someone study a TV rundown like he does,”
“It’s a surreal thing. He’s dialed in like he’s at halftime of the SEC championship game.”
Saban began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kent State way back in 1973 and won seven national championships and 11 SEC titles during his college football coaching career. His NFL coaching career proved far less successful, running just two seasons at the Miami Dolphins, failing to secure postseason action on both occasions.
Clearly, preparation is key in both roles and one imagines Saban will similarly excel, not least because of his boundless experience and expertise, making him ideally suited to his new position.
