re: Saban - "I try to be friends with the refs."

quote:

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If a lawyer got buddy buddy with a judge outside of the courtroom you bet your arse there'd be a problem with the bar association.

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Wrong in the specific example and wrong in the parallel you are trying to make.

Saban - and all SEC coaches - bring SEC refs to officiate scrimmages in spring and fall. They talk to them on their own campuses about rules changes, how they (refs) anticipate the rules being called in games, etc. Every HC in the SEC goes out of his way to make these officials feel welcome when on campus. These guys are treated extremely well and, yes, some have a cordial relationship with coaches across the SEC. You are NOT seeing SEC officials hang out socially with SEC HCs. Doesn't happen and not what Saban meant.