Alabama football fans got to hear Mike Locksley and Tosh Lupoi speak on the upcoming season. Their remarks followed always carefully crafted themes.
Alabama football fans and the media get two shots at the Crimson Tide coordinators. One of them is the designated fall media day and the next comes after the regular season. On Saturday, they followed Nick Saban’s media session.
Neither Mike Locksley or Tosh Lupoi have the nuanced communication skills of Nick Saban. Even if they did, their main messages would not deviate from Nick Saban’s themes. Continuity of message is important. Players pay attention to what coaches say and the young men don’t benefit from any contradictions.
There is no one secret to Nick Saban’s success. One of the primary reasons Nick is CFB’s greatest coach is preparation. Every coach prepares. No coach out-prepares Nick Saban. Hence, no staff or team out-prepares Alabama football.
Listening to Nick Saban over two days, plus the coordinator media sessions, themes become evident. It is an understatement to say those themes are carefully crafted. The themes are deliberate rather than false. They always follow a purpose often best served by something less than full disclosure.
The 2018 Alabama football pre-season themes
- The 2018 team is a work-in-progress that has accomplished nothing. The goal is to create a unique excellence, driven by discipline and toughness. Players should have goals about getting better rather than expectations of certain results. In fall camp, players must develop a strong breaking point.
- Leadership is earned rather than assigned. The defense needs leaders and Mack Wilson, as well as others, are being encouraged to strive toward leadership roles.
- The 2018 offense and defense will be “Alabama’s” not Mike Locksley’s or Tosh Lupoi’s.
- Every position has competition throughout the organizational chart. Players are given practice reps to prepare them to contribute situationally whenever required.
- A player can never be able to dominate an opponent until that player has learned to dominate his own will.
There are other Nick Saban themes, developed over a long coaching career, and honed in Tuscaloosa. There are too many to list. It is important to understand the principles are unwavering. That strong adherence to core values is why five Alabama football teams in the last nine seasons have been national champions.
When Locksley and Lupoi spoke on Saturday, there was no doubt the pair understands those values. More than toeing the party line, the two men understand what an extraordinary opportunity they have been given. Lupoi described the University of Alabama as the mecca of college football.
Almost every Alabama football fan wonders what Saban and Locks said about a starting QB. The answer is not much. Saban claimed the team has spent no time working on a two-QB system. He also said winning the team is not a “straw vote” by the players. Locks said he will know who the starting QB will be when Nick tells him.
Stay tuned to Bama Hammer, Tide fans. Some added insight on the QB situation coming up soon.