Saban won’t sugar-coat it for his players
November 20, 2007
Alabama head coach Nick Saban launched into his answer before he even heard the question during Monday’s press conference in Tuscaloosa.
Two weeks ago, he called the Mississippi State the biggest of the year, based on how the team responded after losing an emotional showdown against LSU.
Last week, he talked about executing and finishing strong in a two-game season.
Taking a three-game losing streak into his first Iron Bowl, Saban apparently answered a question that wasn’t asked.
A Huntsville reporter started to ask about players not responding in the last two weeks. The coach quickly countered.
“I think we should sugar-coat it,” Saban said. “And when they’re doing the wrong thing, we should sugar-coat it and say, ‘You’re doing good. We love you for doing the wrong stuff.’ I think that’s what we should do. I think that’s how we’ll be really successful in the future. I really do.
“And I’m gonna tell you what: That ain’t ever gonna happen here. It’s never going to happen, not as long as I’m here. And if we can’t win doing it the right way and getting guys to do the right things, then I won’t be here. Y’all won’t want me to be here, obviously. But that’s not gonna happen.
“You all are putting winning before doing it right. And that’s wrong. You’re putting winning a championship and winning games before getting people to do the right thing and being a champion. And that’s wrong, in my opinion.
“And the good teams that we play, they got it. They got it. And you’re never gonna beat them unless you’ve got it. And I wish nobody would ask me about that anymore. Because I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. Every coach I ever been around that sugar-coats it for the players? It does no good and it just blows up.
“Rubbing and loving their neck when they’re doing the wrong thing? And if we did that? Y’all would crucify us. Is that the kind of program you want here? Is that what kind of program you want the University of Alabama to have? To represent the people in this state, the great tradition that we have here and the great institution that this is and the great state that this is and all the people that we represent — that’s what you want? You answer that question. Don’t stutter, just answer the question. It’s yes or no.”
The reporter said, “I’ll try to answer the question, but the question I was trying to ask was, “Have you ever had a team not respond like this in the last two weeks?”
“Yes,” Saban said. “In starting to build a program and after you have a catastrophic event like this they usually figure it out. They usually figure it out. If they got the right stuff. We have a lot of good kids on our team. And it is for the good kids on our team and the players that try to do it right that you want to represent and get the other people on the team you are depending on to do it right, too.”
