Hired Gun Or Lovable Loyalist?
by Jay Coulter on May 22, 2009 3:00 AM CDT
in Football
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Would you want this guy coaching your school?
Here's a question for you to ponder over this Memorial Day Weekend: Would you rather have a football coach that's likeable, fan friendly and somewhat successful or one who's ultra successful, but is a jerk who could care less about his fans and only thinks of himself and winning?
The columnist we all love to hate, Paul Finebaum, writes an excellent story this week on Florida's Urban Meyer and Alabama's Nick Saban. He writes, "These are the two best coaches in the SEC, perhaps the entire nation. Collectively, they own three of the last six BCS titles. (But) Nobody would accuse Meyer or Saban of being warm and fuzzy, or even nice or pleasant. I've met both and you could catch a cold sitting next to either."
There's little doubt they are the two best coaches in the SEC. It's really not up for debate at this point. There's also no debating they are the two most disingenuous, pompous and self-serving coaches in America. If you are a Gator or Tide fan how to do you feel about these guys? Sure, publicly most are going to say they love him. But deep down are these the kind of people you want representing your school?
I don't know the answer to that question. National titles and conference championships make you mighty proud of old State U. Then again, how does it feel to have a coach who views your school as just another job? How do you feel about a coach who views talking with fans as a necessary evil - just another part of the job?
Gene Chizik has yet to win a game at Auburn. He may be the surprise hire of 2008. Then again, he could pick up where he left off in Ames, Iowa. But we do know one thing already: Auburn fans are eating him up.
He's saying all the right things as he makes his way across the South speaking at Auburn Club meetings. Here's a comment from a poster on an Auburn message board who attended Chizik's talk in Columbus, Georgia on Wednesday:
"I was at that meeting (Columbus/Phenix City Auburn Club). My opinion is this: He either understands what the rest of the Auburn family understands - it is about Family and the Auburn Creed, or he should get an Academy Award for best actor in the world. I really think he gets what being an Auburn person is about. He really gets it, and I believe he does, we are going to be ok. I will have to admit I was not excited when he was hired, but I also think I was wrong. Hope he proves me wrong about my initial reaction. Think we might have a winner."
How many times has that been written about Meyer or Saban?
Orlando Sentinel writer Mike Bianchi wrote recently, "Meyer is obviously a great coach, but he doesn't really cultivate relationships with fans or media. He's simply not very accessible or embraceable. I don't really know Urban Meyer. Does anybody?"
Finebaum echoes the same sentiment about the Alabama coach. "It's the same way here with Saban. I don't believe many members of the media who cover Saban really know him. I suspect the Crimson Tide fan base feels the same way. They are mesmerized by his rock star status. They are intimidated by his presence. But do they really like him?"
It's a great question. How would you feel if one of these two guys were coaching the school you love? How would you answer my question? Is it ok in this day and age to have a highly successful hired gun that doesn't hold the same beliefs or priorities as your fanbase, but manages to win on the football field?
Where do you fall in the debate?
Editor's Note: Track'em Tigers will be taking Memorial Day off to smoke cigars and drink beer - there's no need to beat around the bush. I hope all of you have a nice, relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Don't forget to pause for a moment and remember the reason we celebrate this long weekend. War Eagle and we'll talk to you on Tuesday.
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Tough one
I have thought about this before regarding Terry Bowden. I never thought that Terry was an Auburn Man. But when I look back I never really gave him a chance, but deep down I think I was right. I think he was a great on field coach, but not a good coach otherwise (obviously).
Would I love to have at least one NC in football in my lifetime, HELL YES. No doubt, but it should make all Auburn people proud, that we run such a clean program now and look for good kids to be taught by good coaches.
I look at Urban and Saban and wonder if they will be “lifers,” I mean if Tuberville would have one the NC in 2004, would he and Auburn had the same problems? More than likely but we will never know. And even with the CTT and Auburn issues, I dont think that most true Auburn Fans thought he would leave. If Chizik can somehow pull out a NC for the Tigers in the near future, would be ever expect him to leave? Would be want him too?
Jay your post got me thinking hard about this, but I am not sure that I have an answer at this time. 1957 was a long time ago… It sure would be nice to get a Waterford Football in the trophy case.
If you are a War Damn Eagle, you can War Damn anything.
Is there a combination of both?
I look at coaches like Joe Pa and Bobby Bowden and see how much they have accomplished on the field and how much they did for their universities and for their fans. i know that they are anomalies, but there have to be some coaches out there that could do the same, probably not in wins, but have the same combination of talent and passion.
I think Florida and Bama fans would both agree to pick the unlikable successful coaches, but that, I believe, is due to who their legacy coaches are, Bryant and Spurrier. Both fit the mold of successful unlikable coaches that wanted to win at any costs. On the other side, do you think that Penn State or Florida State would replace Joe and Bobby with someone not media savvy and likable? I don’t see it.
If I had to pick one or the other, I would have to ask the question, what is your definition of somewhat successful? If somewhat successful is 5-6, 6-6, 7-5 year in and year out, then I would take the unlikable coach. If your definition of somewhat successful is rocking 8-4 year in and year out and maybe a 10 win season thrown in sometimes, then I would take him. This statement puts me in a bind because I was certainly on the bandwagon of getting rid of Tuberville and he certainly fell into that second category, BUT, his teams drove me crazy.
My issue with Tuberville was mainly in the fact that he couldn’t get his players together for small games. If he couldn’t motivate the starting lineup to play La Tech, then he should have played his second string, let them beat them badly and got playing time, they sure would have appreciated the reps. He seemed to always lose the games that we shouldn’t have and won the games that we shouldn’t. There is no doubt in my mind that Tuberville helped make Auburn and name that most college football fans know across the country, whether or not they know where it is.
Hate to say it, but
Pete Carroll
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 22, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
two cents
Jury is out on CGC… CTT was certainly in the likeable category, but couldnt get us over the hump (although I fully concede it was not his doing in 2004).
For AU, right now, if I was directing the ship and everything else being equal, I will trade “likeability” for a 4-6 year run like what Sabear produced at Whoville, and what Crier is doing in Gainesville.
I don't think the two qualities are mutually exclusive.
I think you can be demanding and accept nothing less than the best from your assistants and players and not be an a$$ ____ like Saban. I think Vince Lombardi and Pete Carrol pull that off. I think I see a lot of that on Gene’s staff. Time will tell.
Heck, I’ll run through a brick wall for Trooper Taylor.
Excellent thread, Jay
Meyer’s with us or against us attitude lately is subject to broad debate, but I suspect that most Gator fans don’t care. His resume in the trophy cabinent is crowding out another coach’s, and although there is some friction, I think he’s sitting pretty.
by War Eagle Atlanta on May 22, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions
I vote for the somewhat successful but likable coach...
such as (CTT) as long as the program is run in a manner that reflects the personality of the coach. As long as we have a clean program with few or no off the field incidents, I can handle an occasional loss. I would much rather run a clean program and suffer an occasional but respectable loss than to win a few more games and become the NCAA Whipping Boy.
For the record, although I was not for the dismissal ofCTT nor the hiring of CGC, I do feel that in hindsight it was probably time for CTT to go. I also feel that in regard to coaching experience, CGC was probably the best available coach at the time of the hire, but only time will tell.
so you
want mediocrity…win a few…lose a few…but be nice…
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
Huh...
I don’t think a few acceptable losses here and there is considered mediocrity. And if your wondering if its between a few losses here and there Vs a coach that will blame losses on the fans for not beign supportive enough (after they put 92,000 in the stands at A-day), or do things that could be considered shady by the NCAA. Well i’ve got to take the coach that doing it the right way, saying the right things, and winning more than our share of the games.
What exactly has Saban
done that has been shady….and god…if you mention the so called “text book” scandal then i might have to hunt you down..
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
I think
they are referring to the video calls made. Sure they were legal but they certainly pushed the edge and were shady.
in recruiting
its sometimes necessary to push the envelope…lets just hope there is no money in it :)
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
I would LOVE both, but...
While I have long dreamed of another NC championship in my lifetime, I wouldn’t trade our reputation as the “Auburn Family” VS the “Gator Nation” or “Alabama Nation” for it by having a real jacka$$ as head coach as Florida and Alabama have. I am also proud of our graduation rate and our players not constantly being in trouble and in the news for negative activities.
I firmly believe that a head coach can be the type person who has the firm hand with his players and assistants to get the job done and the personality to deal with alumni and press with genuine feeling for the university. I know that coach’s change jobs and change that loyalty. I know that Coach Tuberville had a genuine affection for Auburn and his players. I think Coach Chizik does as well. As the article said, he either does, or is a very good actor. Saban and Meyer don’t even make the effort. In fact, I think they relish their reputations. My favorite line in the article is : “There’s also no debating they are the two most disingenuous, pompous and self-serving coaches in America.” Good one, Paul Finebaum!
I met Coach Trooper Taylor recently, and he is the type guy the players will really want play for. I’m sure the others are as well. I would like it all, but if we give up our souls for that NC, we would be losers in the long run. I have told many Alabama bloggers that I would rather be us in our situation right now than one of them in ANY situation.
Also, yes, please say a prayer this week-end for our fallen soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen AND for the active military men and women and veterans. We owe them everything.
War Eagle!!!!
Yes, I graduated from Auburn! Is there anyplace else? WAR EAGLE!!!
by AUTigress on May 22, 2009 11:20 AM CDT reply actions
It does not have to be one or the other.....
UF knew what they were getting when they hired Meyer…….same with Bama. They didn’t hire either for the long term solution, they hired them for as immediate success as possible. UF knew where Meyers heart is and if they didn’t then they do now. Saban has shown he lacks the loyalty to any institution other than his own resume. Don’t get me wrong I don’t fault either one of them, they are doing what is best for them to achieve what ever goals they may have and that is what we all do. But it is not only possible but very probable to get both. We had it in Tuberville, OSU has it in Tressell, USC in Carroll, Va Tech in Beam, FSU in Bowden, UT in Mack (AU coach poaching) Brown, Etc…….the list is far bigger than the hired gun list with no emotional attachment to the school or fanbase. Although you left out one of the recent SEC hires that fits that bill (Petrino). I believe Chizik, for what its worth, believes in AU and its values and win or lose his heart is in it. We will see what happens.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
L O L
Yeah, because family guys and people who are part of the Alabama “family” haven’t burned us in the past.
Yall can “eat him up” all you want. Can he recruit in the SEC? Can he win SEC games? Can he present the kind of image that you want your University to be seen as? Mediocre teams can keep warm and fuzzy. Ya’ll want to hire your “favorite uncle” we want to hire a machine of teh coaching.
I want my team to be considered the evil empire and Nick Saban fits that just fine.
Don't you mean the school you root for.....
Mr. Sidewalk alumni?
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Dood
I’m in school right now…. Im typing in the Morgan Hall computer lab…
Also as far as Auburn insults go the sidewalk alumni thing always seemed like the most desperate and unimaginative.
by Wallacewade04 on May 22, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Door Open=I'm walking in...
No one should know the definitions of desperate and unimaginative better than a UAT fan….
War Eagle…
And how the hell....
Does Nick Saban keep being brought up in a conversation about something that Urban Meyer said?
Its the Michael Wilbon syndrome, “Wilbon a coach in the NFL today said he doesn’t like cats, wahts your thoughts?”
“Well random NFL coach doesn’t know what hes talking about. Cats are loveable creatures that can be very satisfying and this jerk coach is an idiot. Just like Nick Saban. I bet Nick Saban doesn’t like cats, U bet nick saban even kicks cats, kittens even. Nick Saban is an evil cat hater that is evil evil evil. NICK SABAN IS THE DEVILLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!”
“Thx Wilbon”
by Wallacewade04 on May 22, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
As far as....
why Saban was referred to in this post? Did you not read the post before commenting? The post is a reflection on articles written by newspaper columnest on the subject……one of which was Paul Finebaum writing about Saban. And your analogy about cats is different than the affection or loyalty of a coach to his school and its fans.
what is dood…..sounds unsavory.
As far as the loyalty to the university that I think is necessary for the union to be long term…..just as the university must be loyal in return. Tuberville had the love and loyalty for AU but the few charge didn’t reciprocate. I am not saying that the coach must be an affable fellow with the alumni and fans but he should take care not to insult them and talk down to them…….if he can do that then I think he has shown where his loyalties lie. The sidewalk alumi comment may not apply to you but to often it does apply to those who speak vehemently about the virtues of their school…….when actually all they mean is a football or sports team that they care about. I could careless how imaginative it sounds……usually the shoe fits. Good luck in your studies.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
JUST got done with a test on Russian literature actually
so please kill me. Interim classes s u c k
Nah but what i was trying to “satirize” was that this whole story came about because Urban Meyer called out that QB that was questioning his game plan. Somehow Wilbon and Finebaum tie this into an idea of Nick Saban and his apparent God complex. Also Michael Wilbon absolutely hates Nick Saban, even when he throws him props on a coaching job hes always taking a jab and when the subject of Urban calling out a former player he of course took a jab at Saban who had nothing to do with Urban Meyer talking about a former Gator.
Then again it is the off season so I guess F-bomb just needs to stir the ole pot a bit
by Wallacewade04 on May 22, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Finebaum....
is nothing but a pot licker and that is not up for debate. He makes the big bucks being an ass……but the article in question was about the persona of the rockstar coach and his loyalty or lack there of to the fanbase and the school. I don’t like Finebaum….never have never will…..but I think he was dead on in his article. Finebaum and those like him wouldn’t have anything to say about Meyer or Saban if they didn’t create the image in the first place. If Saban has mediocre success at bama he will be despised for his lack of personality by the fans and alumni.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Nowadays, everyone is a hired gun
Gone are the days of loyalty from a coach to a school and visa versa. We will never see another Paterno, Bowden, Bear, or even Fulmer. The closest thing to those guys are guys like Beamer, Richt, Brown, Stoops, and Carrol. Among them, those 5 guys, they have as many crystal balls as Urban and Saban (Urban of course being the real standout as he’s the only coach with two). So, does that mean that the guys with the bling are better coaches than the ones without? I say no.
What exactly has Saban accomplished on the field at Bama that makes him such a great coach? Finally a win over Auburn, a trip to Atl, and a BCS bowl. Congrats Saban, you’ve matched Houston Nutt’s accomplishments! Same goes for Urban. He, Saban, and Miles all backed into an MNC. They didn’t accomplish anything more than Richt did in 2002 and what Beamer has done numerous times (i.e. a one loss season and conference championship). So, it’s really all about the bling factor with them, but they don’t have a really time tested track record. For my money, I’d take Richt and Beamer over Saban or Urban any day. Those guys may not have had everything break their way to bring home the bling, but they have proven they can win consistently.
How did...
Urban back into the MNC? Not too much doubt in my mind Florida was the best team in the land both years that they won it with him in charge. I agree that Miles backed into it, but I don’t really think Saban did, and Meyer definitely didn’t.
I hate to do this but,
Saban put LSU on the map again. They had been ranked in the final poll 3 times in the 12 years before he got there and he recruited them well enough and coached them well enough to allow Miles to pick up and run with the program since his departure. What he did at Alabama this year was amazing, he took a group of talented players that couldn’t play together and managed to get them on the same page and had them playing very good football. Now, with a lot of the team leaders gone, this year will tell a big story. If he can get about 10 wins this year, he will prove himself as a good coach to me.
I know that Miles get a lot of crap, but he has done a great job of maintaining the top notch recruiting and winning a lot of games. He might have won a championship with a lot of Saban’s recruits, but he still got it and his team today is as talented as any that Saban had while there.
Not much to say about Meyer except he wins. 9 wins on his two down seasons and championships for the other two, not shabby.
You can’t back into a championship, you can inherent a team that is capable, but you still have to get them motivated to win and put the plan into motion. All of them being in the SEC makes it, in my opinion, impossible to back into one since the level of competition is so high.
As long as he doesn't badmouth Auburn, I couldn't care less
He doesn’t have to be likable, he doesn’t have to be friendly, all I really care about is whether he wins games or not. I’d rather have a cold coach who wins than a nice coach who loses, plain and simple. If everything is equal, I’d choose the nice coach, but that’s about it. However, there’s only a certain level of cold I’d be willing to deal with.
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
However, you can't win them all
Eventually there’s going to be a down year, and it’s during those times that a fanbase could turn on the cold but successful coach. I imagine Urban and Saban’s overall douchebaggery wouldn’t fly too well with the fans after two sub 8-win seasons.
by TexasAUtiger on May 22, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
It gained the ire of quiet a few fans as it is....
let him have moderate success or back to back bad seasons and watch how impatient the masses grow.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Exactly
If Florida had 8 wins this past season, I can see that fanbase letting the shit hit the fan.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
JD
you are one of the sole logical voices on this site…couldn’t agree with you more. Football is about winning. Its a game not a popularity contest. If Auburn wants the nice guy…then you can have it. Ill take the guy who is an ass to the media (which is perfectly fine since most media types are idiots anyway and deserve whatever they get) over mister nice guy who can’t find his own shoes. Again, this a game and the point is to win not make everyone like you ….and that includes the fans.
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
The problem is not the attitude with the media....
its the attitude with the heart and soul of the programs, the fans and alumni that support the program. When a coach talks down to or alienates a fanbase he had better win and win big or he won’t be around long. Like I said I don’t fault the hired gunslinger mentality especially with the press….but don’t piss off the people that pay your salary or it may come back to haunt you. Tuberville is the perfect example, he was untouchable by those that wanted him gone until he had the dismal season. Winning makes it tolerable but let them have one season that is less than good and they may find it might have been prudent to be less abrasive to those fans and alumni.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
See i think
some fans need to be talked down to. There are a lot of unrealistic bama fans…a shock to you Im sure and I appreciate the way that Saban handles it. He lets them know when they are being unrealistic and that they need to come out of the clouds….I don’t know much about Myer but Saban is a pretty good fit at Bama. Not just because he has won so far, but because of his winning mentality. I agree though, if he has a 6-7….7-7 back to back then you will hear grumblings but that will happen to the nice guy and the ass.
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
No Jerks for me.....
having grown up with Shug Jordan Football…. I want a coach that not only wins but carries himself with class, teaches his players (and shows the world) what it means to be a good citizen and a good Auburn Man !
aubtigerman
Great article
I think this is a very interesting debate and one that will continue for many years.
I think one issue here is the actual vs. perceived make-up of both men referrenced in the article. Nothing surprized me more than Meyer’s recent stance on Florida alumni. As a UA alumni, I would be furious if Coach Saban took a similar stance. However, what do we really need to know about these men? As a UA alumni I must say all I know about Coach Meyer is what I read and the 5 second clips on television; most of which are not flattering these days. What I know about Coach Saban is this, he donates a great deal of money to the University, he has a wife that loves him, what we know to be good children and players and administrators speak very highly of him including his work ethic and his morals. After that, what more, as college football fans and alumni do we really need to know?
At some point in time the question needs to be asked. Is this really who the man is or who the media perceives him to be? If we take Gene Chizik for example, a great deal of the media have made him out to be a poor hire and an incompetent coach. Is that accurate? I don’t think so. He proved to be a good coach while at Auburn and Texas as DC. So how did this perception come about? Mainly through bloggers, radio talk shows and talking heads on TV because of one bad experience at ISU. To me that is an inaccurate portrait of a man and a coach.
There will never be the Bryants, Jordans, Dodds, etc. of college football anymore. These were great coaches and great men but they were highly protected by the media and not highly scrutinized. If Coach Bryant or Coach Jordan were at the respective Universities today, Paul Finebaum would sell them down the river to increase his exposure in a heartbeat. Some of the coaches noted above included Stoops, Richt, Carrol and Beamer. Stoops is a hard man but he is certainly more polished from a media perspective as is Carroll. However, Carroll’s program is under significant scrutiny as it relates to major recruiting violations. He is charming and has won but at what cost? Richt is also charming but has not won a national championship and neither has Frank Beamer. UGA is muttering about running Richt off! That’s crazy to me.
Auburn had a great man that was likeable and that took the football program nearly to the pinnacle of college football. Tommy took Auburn beyond that of Mark Richt and certainly equal to that of Frank Beamer but that was not good enough. At some point in time Auburn either has to place a priority on winning or warmth. The decision is ultimately the leaders at the University but Tommy was as close to both as you can get and Auburn’s leaders ran him off. So that poses the question, what now? I just don’t know.
Good post
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 24, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Top 10 Ways You Know Florida is Going Over to the Dark Side of the Force
On Fanblogs today, a thread suggests a link from Meyer to Darth Vader with his recent if you’re not with us, you’re against us commentary. Since I love a good Star Wars analogy as much as the next guy, I present:
From the home office in Atlanta, GA, todays top 10 Ways You Know Florida is Going Over to the Dark Side of the Force
10) Sith Lord gathering strength in Tuscaloosa…
9) OC Mullen banished to remote outpost, Starkvilletooine…
8) Sith Lord emeritus Darth Visor demoted to Darth Envious…
7) Must play LSU this year in Dagobah-Rouge …
6) Gator recruiters now working Hoth and it’s regions…
5) Typical Star Wars Awards Ceremony mysteriously cancelled after 2nd BCS crown this decade…
4) AD Ackbar: “It’s a trap!!!”
3) EDSBS: Ewoks Definitely Suck Blogging Saturdays…
2) Percy Harvey clones knocked out of game too easy by good blaster at your side…
1) Meyer on Tebow’s failure to win 2nd Heisman: “Force no longer strong with this one…”
by War Eagle Atlanta on May 22, 2009 4:35 PM CDT reply actions
DAMMIT!
I’ve been making Nick Saban = Darth Saban threads on ESPN boards for two years now.
FLORIDA CAN’T BE SITH WITH THE TEBOW CHILD IT JUST DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY
we’re the dark side dammit….freakin jort wearin…..
by Wallacewade04 on May 22, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Chizik to Texas
The argument is harder to make when you take into account that Chizik left Auburn for Texas to be their “co-defensive coordinator”.
Im not sure what the "debate"
everyone keeps talking about is? Of course everyone will pick the nice guy who can win over the jerk who can win. Thats a no brainer.
But to say that you’d choose a coach who’s “nice” but loses consistently over a guy who’s not so nice but wins is just asinine. The goal at the start of each game is to put up more points than the other team…what does “being nice” have to do with that? Urban & Saban…two guys who aren’t warm and fuzy but win..A LOT…they are recruiting beasts….fans love them…media hate them…..ummm yeah ill take those guys any day of the week and twice on Saturday.
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
Nicky coachbot/Coach Satan...
…..Other than the “coon-ass” comment a year ago, Saban has pretty much kept his nose clean in the SEC etiquette contest! For me, I don’t care what he or Urban Meyer say. I’m more concerned about Auburn’s record against those guys! Lessee… Against Saban, Auburn’s 4-3; against Meyer, 2-0. I can’t argue. To me, Saban’s not a guy who’s going to fire up opponents with his words. It’s a football game. You’re not going to win by firing up opponent fans. You win by preparing your own team, which Saban’s proved to be very good at…
We're fans because
we all love the way winning feels. We love to win and we love success. Not a single one of us has ever had that same feeling after a press conference where our head coach was super lovable and nice. If the reason you’re a fan is because you like the way the head coach acts, you’re in it for the wrong reasons.
"The first person I would like to thank is the good Lord, for giving me the ability to play the game of football. Because without the ability to play the game I would have been at Auburn." - Marty Lyons
by crimsonpride19 on May 24, 2009 10:40 PM CDT reply actions
Coach Richt....
…is a good Christian man and class act. He has given us 2 additional SEC crowns. However, his teams don’t go for the throat and tend to be lazy on and off the field. With Richt at the helm we will always be a 10-3 team forever playing in the Capital One or Sugar Bowl. But after suffering through a decade of Goff & Donnan, I’ll take it.
I don't know....
I met CTT last year before the UGA game, and although he was all smiles and sincerity; that did not stop me from fantasizing his head on a stick during that long drive home after the game.
War Eagle!!
Does it HAVE to be either?
I am sure that most UF fans think that Meyer is the greatest man alive, the same could be said for Bama fans and Saban.
As for Chizik. He wasnt exactly the popular choice either when he came back to the plains, And yet now he is (publically) loved by all the fans and sports writers. Popularity is subjective and it does varie from fan to fan.
Please do me a favor… You are far too smart quote Paul Finebaum. You are a class above him as far as jounalistic integrity goes.
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