Alabama Football: In learning from Nick Saban, Steve Sarkisian gets it

Most Alabama football fans have genuine respect for what Steve Sarkisian did for the Crimson Tide. He might have or might not have been Nick Saban’s best-ever Offensive Coordinator. At the least, he was a very good one. Also, there is little doubt that no Steve Sarkisian in Tuscaloosa would have meant no Bryce Young either. That alone should endear Sark to Alabama fans.

There are other reasons. Steve Sarkisian is one of many coaches whose career was revived in Tuscaloosa. Arguably he was the one that needed the rejuvenation the most. Almost all the others frequently voice appreciation for the lessons learned from Nick Saban.

The only real exception in Saban’s former staff members, who are now head coaches is Jimbo Fisher. Fisher is entitled to run his rapid-fire mouth in any way he chooses, but when he attacked Saban, he belittled himself.

Getting back to Sarkisian, his tenuous situation at Texas cannot be ignored. He can’t use one of Saban’s most important lessons about not letting ‘others’ impact the direction of a program. In Austin, no coach can.

Recently, Steve Sarkisian spoke about Nick Saban.

"I have the utmost respect for Coach Saban and that organization and that team. Without Coach Saban, I wouldn’t be here sitting with you guys today, for what he’s done for my career."

Sarkisian was more specific in talking about what he learned from Saban and working in the Alabama football program.

"He’s the greatest to ever do it for a reason. He lives a very regimented, disciplined life. He’s very scheduled and he knows what he’s going to do at any time of day. That spills over to the team and it is very structured.They know what is expected of them on a daily basis. That’s a by-product of who Nick is as a person. It doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of fun, it doesn’t mean they aren’t tough and physical and play fast, but it stems from that discipline in his life."

An Alabama Football Lesson

Sarkisian added one more short statement that shows he fully bought in to the Nick Saban ‘Process’.

"I think it was helpful. It allows everyone else in that structure to fall in line with what you’re doing and it minimizes the unknown."

Minimizing the unknown is a cornerstone for Nick Saban and has been before he came to Tuscaloosa. In one of many Nick Saban profiles, Bama Hammer has offered over the years, a similar conclusion was drawn.

"Leave nothing to doubt is a short jump to leave nothing to chance. Seek clarity in all things. That is the Nick Saban process."

Steve Sarkisian gets it – so do others. Nick Saban does not get enough credit for the impact he has made on his coaches.