Saban hopes last loss will get his team’s attention

TUSCALOOSA — The cracks that appeared in Alabama’s team chemistry after the Mississippi State loss are looking more like fissures after Tide coach Nick Saban labeled Saturday’s defeat against the University of Louisiana at Monroe “catastrophic” and “humiliating.”

Saban stressed doing things right, all the time, during Monday’s disquieting press conference. Saban suggested the loss to the Warhawks will prompt major changes in his program. In an uncharacteristic lack of perspective, he drew analogies from the stunning upset to significant historical events.

“Changes in history usually occur after some kind of catastrophic event,” Saban said. “It may be 9/11, which sort of changed the spirit of America relative to a catastrophic event. Pearl Harbor got us ready for World War II or whatever and that was a catastrophic event.

“I don’t think anyone is this room would have bet that we would lose back-to-back games to Mississippi State or ULM — no disrespect to those teams. And there’s really a reason for that. There’s a reason that these things occur, relative to focus, preparation, getting it right — and I’m talking about on and off the field.

“And to have players suspended, guys missing things, not doing what they’re supposed to do, not practicing and focusing on the way they need to practice, not finishing plays, not finishing games, not finishing the season — you know, you get humiliated. And that’s basically what happened.”

On the Monday of Auburn week, it was evident that the focus is on getting Alabama prepared for the future, not just for the 7 p.m. showdown against the Tigers.

“You talk about the 24-hour rule, we need to have that and focus on the next game,” Saban said. “You also have to remember what happened. You can’t sweep it under the rug like it didn’t happen because it did. Nobody here is happy about it.

“I think everyone here has to do a gut check relative to what it means to them. We are going to find who cares and who doesn’t care and the ones that don’t care, they shouldn’t be here. They really shouldn’t.

“It is not fair to the institution, it is not fair to their teammates, not fair to the people they represent and that is just the way it is. We will get it right, because we will get it right with people who care, who want to do it and it is important to them.”

Free safety Rashad Johnson indicated off-the-field issues have been building long before Saban took over the program.

“The fact of guys not going to class and off-the-field issues, this is nothing new,” Johnson said. “It’s something he’s coming into that he’s trying to fix.
“It hasn’t been as big as it used to be. Things are starting to get cut down a lot, but there are still things that pop up every now and then that I believe cause a distraction among the players.”

Johnson said it is disappointing that some players aren’t committed enough to the team to understand team responsibilities aren’t limited to the playing field.
“It’s like everybody’s depending on certain people to do things and then they mess up,” Johnson said. “It feels like a letdown or maybe kind of like a slap in the face.”

“It hurts tremendously,” defensive end Wallace Gilberry said, “But at the same time, you have to realize that different people handle different situations certain ways. Me being a senior and a leader, you’ve got to take it in stride. You definitely say something to them, maybe take them to the side and really check their hearts, so to speak. But you can’t make someone think the way you think. It’s just not possible.”

Linebacker Darren Mustin said little things that get overlooked can grow into big things.

“No matter how small it is, you got to do the right thing all the time,” Mustin said. “And if you don’t, there’s going to be consequences. Yeah, us being athletes, we can’t even … we could probably jay-walk and be on the front page. I’m not saying anything about the police, but that’s just a fact of the matter.

“You got to do stuff right all the time. And those distractions here, those distractions there, it really doesn’t mix. You don’t need that, if you’re really trying to be a champion during the year, you can’t have that. Besides that, that off-the-field and on the field, the little things, it affects you in a game, I don’t care what anybody says.”

Johnson said that may be what happened Saturday.

“You never know how long it will be before things finally catch up with you, but they will,” Johnson said. Asked to elaborate, he shrugged and said, “Just not going to class. Just off-the-field issues. Different distractions among the team that shouldn’t happen.”

Saban said it won’t continue to happen. He likened the ULM result to an alcoholic hitting rock bottom.

“I think everybody has to realize how they have to change,” he said. “They talk about how alcoholics never change until they hit rock bottom, well they change when they hit rock bottom because they have an awareness, an acceptance, and so they make a commitment to change.

“I think that is what our players need to do right now because in the last two weeks, or since after the LSU game, I haven’t seen the same spirit, I haven’t seen the same commitment, I haven’t seen the same perseverance, I haven’t seen the same work ethic, and that is something we have to get right.”