re: So the OBC tells Saban to work smarter not harder?...

Let's look at the years Saban didn't win the conference while at Bama:
2007 - Saban's first year. Had to purge the program. The eventual NCs won the conference.
2008 - lost to one of the best teams and one of the best players of this era. Lost in the 4th qtr with a team not nearly as talented. The eventual NCs won the conference.
2010 - was in the race until the "Camback". The eventual NCs won the conference.
2011 - lost a heart breaker at home to the eventual SEC Champ. Did however exact revenge for that loss and won the NC.
2013 - loss a heart breaker on the "Kick 6". Loss to NC game participant.

The point is that Saban has been coaching Bama during an unprecedented run of success in the SEC. He has been in the thick of the race in November every year since 2007. His way works for him.