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Alabama Crimson Tide Football Fan Blog
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NO LAST CALL!
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: PARTY GUIDES: BAR GUIDES: Ongoing observations on the Tide from a fan, alumni and former sports writer.
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Alabama Football – A Fan's Blog Thoughts from a fan, alumni and former sports writer on the Univerity of Alabama's football team
Nick Saban is no Bear Bryant. He's not an imaginative innovator, a master motivator or quite as savvy of a sideline coach. He's not nearly as media friendly and certainly not anywhere near the poor-mouther, either; nobody could talk up an opponent like the Bear. There is, however, one area in which Nick Saban excels even beyond Bryant, and that is in recruiting. Saban wins because he simply overwhelms opponents with talent. Upon stepping on campus in the winter of 2007, Saban made a late run at Joe McKnight, a top-notch recruit from Louisiana. McKnight kept his commitment to USC, but him having some interest in Alabama shows just how influential Saban can be with top high school players.
Given a full year, Saban immediately lands the #1 recruiting class in the land. Less than three months later, he's already secured his top quarterback target for the 2009 class, A.J. McCarron of Mobile. Doesn't this guy ever go on vacation? Does he even play golf? He's even undaunted by a new NCAA rule prohibiting coaches from seeing players after spring games. So what does he do? Sets up a video conference call with a Georgia recruit and talks with him over the Internet, which perfectly legal. Talk about keeping up with the times.
He also excels in another area, one directly related to recruiting the best players. Part of the recruiting "process," a word Saban often likes to use, is talent evaluation. He knows how to spot skillful players and he's the ultimate closer. Two of his LSU recruits, Jamarcus Russell and Glenn Dorsey, were Top 5 NFL draft picks in back-to-back years. In fact, LSU had seven players drafted in 2008 (and in 2006 and 2004, as well). That's knowing talent when you see it. And he can coach 'em when he gets 'em. College sports are littered with coaches who could recruit but not coach that talent when it arrives on campus. Saban may not be as spectacular as Bryant in that area, but he's solid. After suffering through the "Mike Mistakes," it sure is a relief to have Nick Saban at Alabama. Now let's go win some games! Bama Fans Switch Roles With Red Sox Fans
There's been a changing of the guard in sports psychology the past few years. For decades, while Alabama was winning games by decking opponents in the fourth quarter – what us, worry!? – Red Sox fans were diving into ponds to look for Babe Ruth's piano, rubbing the "Pensky Pole" at Fenway for good luck and repainting a road sign in Boston from "curve" to "Reverse the Curse," all in attempt to break the "curse of the Bambino" and win a World Series again. They were a paranoid bunch built on nearly 100 years of frustration. Bucky Dent. Bill Buckner. A shortstop who held onto the ball too long while the winning run crossed the plate. As a result, the fans were always prepared for the worst to happen to their team. It was an attitude that spilled over into everyday life: "There won't be a parking spot." "I'm sure the concert is sold out." "Oh, it will rain at the event." Now that the Red Sox have won not one but TWO World Series titles in less than a single decade, their usual pessimism has been replaced by optimism. At the same time, Alabama fans' traditional confidence has been shaken by the "Mike Mistakes." I now see myself saying the same negative things before and during games that Red Sox fans used to moan. And I'm not the only one; everyone around me does it, too. Here's some examples. Before playing a big SEC game: "We're probably going to lose." When lining up for a critical field goal: "He's going to miss it." After the Tide scores to take a late lead and the other team gets the ball: "Watch them go down and score a touchdown now." Hopefully, with Saban in charge things will get back to the good 'ol days when we had confidence in the team's ability to win close – and big – games. Fall Saturdays will be much more relaxed and enjoyable. And while I like the Red Sox, it's actually more fun when they come close to winning.
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Commentary by Kevin Wilkerson, an AP-award winning former sports writer who covered the Crimson Tide. He now pens prose
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