Alabama Football: Saban and Finebaum Play Nice
After a much publicized argument during SEC Media Days 2016, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban went on Paul Finebaum’s show so they could kiss and make up.
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Not much happened that was unexpected during the 2016 SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama last week. During the open question forum for Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, reporters shyed away from hard-hitting questions and asked stupid ones like, “How has Lane Kiffin made you a better coach?”
Then, CNS finished up on Radio Row and made his way to the SEC Network booth. Things started off okay, but as usual, pot-stirrer Paul Finebaum asked questions Saban had already stated that he had no intentions of answering. Saban finished the discussion by saying, “That’s the end of the conversation.” In case you live under a rock, or just want to see it again, here’s the video link.
The on-air exchange of words was somewhat heated, but according to Finebaum, it’s what Bama’s head man said OFF the air that was particularly biting. We aren’t privy to that information, because Finebaum hasn’t said exactly what it was that Saban told him. We can assume it wasn’t pretty.
In the wake of that dispute, Saban agreed to call in to the Paul Finebaum Show yesterday to try to make nice with the controversial radio host. The head coach began with this statement:
"“Well, first of all, let me say this about what happened at SEC Media Days. I think you had the perfectly legitimate right to ask the question you asked. And I had the perfect legitimate right to give the answer I gave. I think that’s all there should be to that.”"
The rest of the segment focused strongly on player discipline, especially since Alabama right guard Alphonse Taylor was arrested this past Sunday and “suspended indefinitely.” Saban described what he and his staff do to evaluate a player’s ability to continue with the Tide’s program, both from a medical standpoint and from a rehabilitiation aspect. He has said before that discipline is not necessarily punishment, and he went on to explain more of his role in the handling of players.
Saban compared his responsibility to his players to that as a father to his own children. He also said that the ways he would go about disciplining and working to change undesirable behaviors in his son and daughter are the same ways he seeks to guide his players and evoke positive change.
Coach Saban ended his radio spot with Paul Finebaum by saying that he hates to lose even more than he loves to win.
"“I guess I’m motivated by the fear of failure to some degree, and knowing what can happen when you don’t do things that way you need to do them to have success.”"
Listen to the entire Nick Saban segment on the Paul Finebaum Show HERE.
It’s safe to say that the five-time college football National Championship winning coach knows a thing or two about what to do to have success. Saban disciplines, punishes, guides, assists, and encourages his players to behave positively off the field in the same way that he expects particular actions on the field. Saban will continue to do things his own way – The Process – including handling situations that arise within the program.
Next: SEC Media Days: Photos From The Tide's Trip To Hoover
Will Saban ever be a media-friendly coach? No, probably not. But every single time he steps in front of a camera or talks into a microphone, we know that we are getting the “true” Nick Saban. With him, what you see is most assuredly what you get, even when he isn’t playing nicey-nice with reporters. If championships, Heisman trophies, players with NFL careers and a lasting legacy of Alabama greatness is what we get…everyone is probably okay with that.