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Question for Bama fans: was there EVER a time where you thought Saban was getting stale?
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:23 pm
During saban’s historic reign as Bama HC, has there ever been a stretch of games or a season where you began to wonder if game was beginning to pass him by and he was getting complacent?
Because usually with long time coaches, it often ends with “what have you done for me lately?” Not saban. It’s what makes him special and unusual. He adapts every time the game changes. Like sun tzu advises,
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground
over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Looking back, I can’t think of a single stretch of games or a season where Saban was beginning to show signs of staleness.
Was there ever a stretch of games or a season where Bama fans even remotely started to wonder?
Because usually with long time coaches, it often ends with “what have you done for me lately?” Not saban. It’s what makes him special and unusual. He adapts every time the game changes. Like sun tzu advises,
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground
over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Looking back, I can’t think of a single stretch of games or a season where Saban was beginning to show signs of staleness.
Was there ever a stretch of games or a season where Bama fans even remotely started to wonder?
12
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:25 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
was there EVER a time where you thought Saban was getting stale?
It's happening now. Adam Gase is a joke.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:28 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
has there ever been a stretch of games or a season where you began to wonder if game was beginning to pass him by and he was getting complacent?
Last year after the losses to LSU and Auburn there were a lot of quotes posted here from the Bama board saying exactly that. Now, that's message board overreactions. I doubt the average fan actually thought that.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:28 pm to Hill Country
How many coaches have flopped in the NFL only to see greatness in college? Several, quite a few.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:28 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I thought we might be taking a step back towards just being another good team after the 2018 Clemson game. Got blown out, assistants just didn't appear to be at the needed level, worst recruiting year with the new early signing period we'd had in a decade, all the assistants then leave, etc.
And, we kind of did (or had already). From 2009-2012 we were kind of the college football power. Auburn won in 2010, LSU had a great team in 2011, but we were consistently above everyone else. We did things other people didn't do with the staff, the shadow stuff, we recruited at a different level, etc. Since Urban got to Ohio State and Dabo got Clemson up and running that hasn't really been the case. We are one of the consistent elite teams, but the rest of the pack in the SEC has started doing the same things we do with staffs and money and all that stuff. The gap isn't nearly as wide as it was, as is evident by recruiting, LSU last year, Georgia's rise, etc.
So, long story short, the only time I was truly concerned that we might be at the end was that period between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
EDIT : The period right after the Auburn game last year probably fits the bill too. We played really bad, undisciplined football in that game and it felt like a culmination of things. It didn't feel like we were well coached, and that felt new and different. And while we might not have been on defense, I think we've all come around to the fact that we just didn't have any leaders or experience over there, and that was a terrible combo with a young DC to try and overcome.
And, we kind of did (or had already). From 2009-2012 we were kind of the college football power. Auburn won in 2010, LSU had a great team in 2011, but we were consistently above everyone else. We did things other people didn't do with the staff, the shadow stuff, we recruited at a different level, etc. Since Urban got to Ohio State and Dabo got Clemson up and running that hasn't really been the case. We are one of the consistent elite teams, but the rest of the pack in the SEC has started doing the same things we do with staffs and money and all that stuff. The gap isn't nearly as wide as it was, as is evident by recruiting, LSU last year, Georgia's rise, etc.
So, long story short, the only time I was truly concerned that we might be at the end was that period between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
EDIT : The period right after the Auburn game last year probably fits the bill too. We played really bad, undisciplined football in that game and it felt like a culmination of things. It didn't feel like we were well coached, and that felt new and different. And while we might not have been on defense, I think we've all come around to the fact that we just didn't have any leaders or experience over there, and that was a terrible combo with a young DC to try and overcome.
This post was edited on 1/4/21 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:29 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Not really. After Manziel beat Bama and then the kick-6 the following year, he quickly brought in Lane Kiffin and pretty much let him completely change the offensive philosophy. He's very unafraid to make changes.
ESPN also posted an article about the Iron Bowl that Saban couldnt coach due to Covid. It sounded like he was miserable because it was gameday and he wasnt at the stadium. Burn out definitely has not set in yet
ESPN also posted an article about the Iron Bowl that Saban couldnt coach due to Covid. It sounded like he was miserable because it was gameday and he wasnt at the stadium. Burn out definitely has not set in yet
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:30 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
He's had some iffy hires here and there, but overcame most of them fairly well.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:33 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
No
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:49 pm to RelentlessTide
Going for 6 championships in 12 years ..... So no ....
But there has been a ton of fans and columnist casting that lure out there for clicks ....
But there has been a ton of fans and columnist casting that lure out there for clicks ....
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:55 pm to BAMAneck
quote:
But there has been a ton of fans and columnist casting that lure out there for clicks
Well when they never lose, you'd imagine the columnists would run out of stuff to write about pretty quickly haha
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:57 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
COVID saved Saban
Posted on 1/4/21 at 4:58 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Nope, Saban has been solid with us for 14 years as far as I’m concerned.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:01 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
After the Ole Miss game in 2015 following 2 really average years in 2013-2014 I thought maybe he was done.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:02 pm to JackieTreehorn
quote:
After the Ole Miss game in 2015
Still one of the greatest in season turnarounds/coaching jobs I've ever seen between him and Kiffin.
Hell, we were only winning the next week's game against ULM 14-0 at halftime. That ULM team went 1-7 in the Sun Belt
This post was edited on 1/4/21 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:03 pm to Old Money
quote:
COVID saved Saban
Covid saved Coach O an embarrassing loss to Texas, people are distracted by what a chitty Coach he is.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:03 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Still one of the greatest in season turnarounds/coaching jobs I've ever seen between him and Kiffin.
Ain't no doubt about it.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:06 pm to SmokeTide
quote:
Covid saved Coach O an embarrassing loss to Texas, people are distracted by what a chitty Coach he is.
Losing to Mizzou was worse.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:08 pm to SmokeTide
quote:
Covid saved Coach O an embarrassing loss to Texas, people are distracted by what a chitty Coach he is.
You're not going to find anyone defending Coach O, baw
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:31 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I once lost a job for “failure to retain staff”.
Nick should be held accountable, too.
Nick should be held accountable, too.
Posted on 1/4/21 at 5:47 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
the awful fake FG in the blowout loss to Clemson was
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