Saban's Latest "Tirade"

[AUChizad]

Saban goes on tirade over Tide's passive practice

By Tim Gayle
tgayle@gannett.com

TUSCALOOSA -- Interrupting football practice with spring break is never recommended.

But that didn't seem to lessen the wrath of Alabama coach Nick Saban, who lashed out at his players on Monday for their lackadaisical performance in practice.

"(The) focus wasn't what it needed to be, mental energy wasn't what it needed to be," Saban said as the Crimson Tide returned to practice for the first time since March 13. "Rather than trying to endure practice, get through it, stay one step ahead of the posse so you don't get ... in trouble with a coach or get reprimanded for doing something wrong. Try to do it right."

When Saban made the decision to move an April 11 practice because it fell the day before Easter, he moved it to March 13, putting a nine-day gap between the first and second sessions that created an impossible standard for a squad that returned Monday from spring break.

"I'm not pleased with where we are," Saban said. "And I think this team needs to develop a chemistry in attitude and leadership, and understand what they are trying to accomplish, how important it is to them. And make the investment they need to make to do that.

"You know when you build a house and you make it hurricane proof, you're getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may not ever come," Saban said. "But we're going to have 12 hurricanes next year. We know they're coming."

Despite Saban's post-practice comments, Alabama accomplished quite a bit in its second helmets-and-shorts workout at Thomas-Drew Field. Offensive linemen James Carpenter and Chance Warmack, both January enrollees, participated in their second practice as Tide linemen, with Carpenter drilling at both tackle positions and Warmack working at guard.

"I'm kind of pleasantly surprised with the progress we've been able to make to this point," Saban said. "It's very difficult when you're just shorts and helmets to really evaluate certain positions. But at least athletically, there are certain guys that look like they can make some contribution to our team next year, which is very encouraging."

Two linebackers continued to miss practice. Middle linebacker Prince Hall has been suspended for the second consecutive spring and jack linebacker Brandon Fanney sat out his second practice on Monday while serving an indefinite suspension.

"He wasn't here today, just like he wasn't here the last day," Saban said when asked about Fanney's staus. "I'll tell you when he's going to come back."

Saban ended his press conference the way he started it, aiming a tirade at fans and players who believe Alabama is a national championship contender in 2009 simply because of what the team accomplished in 2008.

"Anything we did last year does nothing but put a target on our back -- (that's) what this team needs to get prepared for," he said. "Because I doubt if before last season anybody had Alabama as one of the teams they needed to beat to win the West (Division) or the SEC. I think everybody will have Alabama as the team to beat this year. So with that goes a responsibility and obligation of our team to have a higher expectation of what we expect of ourselves.

"Do I see that happening? No. Do I think we have a cultural problem here in terms of expectations? Absolutely. We think that because we did something last year, we're going to do something this year, and that doesn't mean anything. I don't want to make any of our fans mad, but if we're thinking that way, we're not thinking right."

Alabama will work out in pads Wednesday, shift back to their final day of NCAA-mandated workouts in helmets and shorts Friday, then don pads again for the remainder of the spring beginning Saturday.

The final two workouts will under the watchful eye of approximately 300 high school coaches in town for the annual coaching clinic.

That last little quote has infuriated uat fans who as we all know believe it is their birthright to be in the National Championship game every year.

[AWK]

So, Saban is a rational human being and it angers Alabama fans.  Who would have thunk it?

[RWS]

This is a typical CNS spring practice press conference. Usually the first 2-3 aren't very nice and he's pretty pissed. After that, he's ok.

Some of our fanbase could use a little bitch slapping. The fans that proclaimed our return to greatness in 07 were embarassing. You would not believe the number of people thinking we would play for a MNC in 07. In 08, I think expectations were a little lower, but we ended up 10 minutes short of playing in the MNC game. People really do need to realize that replacing a veteran QB is no easy task. You guys should know that, even though the whole Franklin abortion muddies the waters a bit for you. Replacing JPW will be tough, but I feel pretty good about McElroy. I think we can come away with a 9 win season in 09. I really don't expect to see many UGA, Arky, or AU type showings though.

[War Eagle!!!]

Personally, this is what I like to see in a coach. I like the fire and I like the motivation and I like the intensity he brings. It is something that bothered me with Tubs for so long. He just always had that smirk on his face. I want the my coach to have the attitude of "damnit, if you don't want this shit, get the hell off the field." Saban is like that. He demands perfection. It is the kind of attitude that he instills in his players that allows them to beat us 36-0. Saban wants to beat the FUCK out of us when we are down, Tubs just wanted to get through the game with a W and go to the next.

Now, that is about the ONLY reason that I would take Saban over Tubs, but personally, I hope Chizik has some of this fire in as ass too.....

[Kaos]

Now, that is about the ONLY reason that I would take Saban over Tubs, but personally, I hope Chizik has some of this fire in as ass too.....

Fire?  His ass?  I agree.  Fire his ass. 

[Kaos]

but we ended up 10 minutes short of playing in the MNC game.

 

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

but we ended up 10 minutes short of playing in the MNC game. 

Unfortunately for you, Utah fell a little short of that game too. 

[El Guapo]

He's spot on about most of our fans. I'm guilty of it sometimes, but most take it was too far, and too often.

[AUChizad]

He's spot on about most of our fans. I'm guilty of it sometimes, but most take it was too far, and too often.

It's funny how people have told you this for years and you get combative, but the Lord Saban Christ tells you, and it's a virtue brought down by the Word of Saban Almighty and must be obeyed.  :eyeroll:

[RWS]

It's funny how people have told you this for years and you get combative, but the Lord Saban Christ tells you, and it's a virtue brought down by the Word of Saban Almighty and must be obeyed.  :eyeroll:

I've been embarassed towards some in our fanbase for longer than a few years. I love Alabama football just as much as anybody else, but I'm not going to piss on your leg and tell you its raining either. The past 10 years have not been pretty. Next year might not be either, but I still think we can get 9 wins.

[El Guapo]

It's funny how people have told you this for years and you get combative, but the Lord Saban Christ tells you, and it's a virtue brought down by the Word of Saban Almighty and must be obeyed.  :eyeroll:

You've known me for years?


You paint with a broad brush, dude.

[JR4AU]

So, Saban is a rational human being and it angers Alabama fans.  Who would have thunk it?

No, Saban is trying to dumb down expectation.  His history shows he's NEVER strung together great seasons.  He's up and down.  He's smart enough to know the bammer nation thinks he's ahead of schedule instead of last season being the perfect storm and bammer catching everybody at just the right time, or teams like Clemson and Auburn imploding.  He's trying to keep them from frothing at the mouth and talking nashinul champyunchip in 2009, when he knows he's likely to deliver anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3 while finding a new QB and retooling the OL. 

[Buzz Killington]

You've known me for years?


You paint with a broad brush, dude.

You bammers...you're all the same.

[AUChizad]

You've known me for years?


You paint with a broad brush, dude.

The collective "You".

Sorry, let me translate to bammer. "Olliey'all".

[Snaggletiger]

You bammers...you're all the same.

I snickered

[El Guapo]

You bammers...you're all the same.

I'm a good looking dude... so you are saying all of us Alabama fans are attractive? Thank you. That was a very nice thing to say.

[Tiger Wench]

I'm a good looking dude... or at least my sister/cousin/wife thinks so so you are saying all of us Alabama fans are attractive? Thank you. That was a very nice thing to say.

that's better...