How true is the "Don't talk to Saban" policy?

[BamaBlake]

i imagine that when he first got here, he was prob. overwhelmed with people wanting some time with the coach. Asking silly questions and asking him about the team. Heck he was darn near raped when he deplaned in tuscaloosa. He has rock star status right now...................

who knows ???????????????? just win baby !!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin:

 

[NashvilleTider]

Bamanut,

Frank Wychek, the former Titan, is the one I heard bashing Saban for his no-speak policy. I heard him the other day going on and on about it. So I called NT Junior who is working in the athletic complex. I wanted to know the truth and was intent on calling the show, or at least e-mailing if it was false.

NT Junior said that it's an unwritten policy and everyone just "knows" you don't stop to chat with coach because he's usually so intent on what he's doing or where he's going. He says when you pass Saban he doesn't make eye contact and student workers are especially intimidated.

So it's got a thread of truth in it. But he did say no one in administration or the business he works for have told anyone they shouldn't speak to Coach Saban.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Bamanut,

Frank Wychek, the former Titan, is the one I heard bashing Saban for his no-speak policy. I heard him the other day going on and on about it. So I called NT Junior who is working in the athletic complex. I wanted to know the truth and was intent on calling the show, or at least e-mailing if it was false.

NT Junior said that it's an unwritten policy and everyone just "knows" you don't stop to chat with coach because he's usually so intent on what he's doing or where he's going. He says when you pass Saban he doesn't make eye contact and student workers are especially intimidated.

So it's got a thread of truth in it. But he did say no one in administration or the business he works for have told anyone they shouldn't speak to Coach Saban.

As long as he's winning not much will come of this. But I'd suspect if for some reason he isn't having much success (as expected) you'll begin to have people file working environment complaints. In todays office you can get sued over anything. All an employee has to do is file a complaint with the company and if nothing is done by the company or if the company doesn't have a paper trail making it appear like they've addressed the employee's complaint the employee can call a lawyer and it becomes a big mess. Happens all the time.

 

[crmsnrevelation]

I actually see this as possible. Military chain of command is how I envision it. I am sure CNS doesnt have time for "What color flyers should we put out coach?" from the support staff. These folks would take it up the chain of command to who it is necessary. I do not see a completely silent department. Its just unsettleing not to say a pleasant "Hello" or what not. CNS does not have enough time to be baddgered by quizical questions and information that doesnt pertain to what he is doing at that moment.

 

[WPtider]

That story came out of Miami, as far as I know. There was no rule at LSU about talking to Nick that anyone ever heard of. Easygoing Skip Bertman likely wouldn't approve of something like that. He's an approachable AD and was a very approachable coach.

On the other hand, Nick is not a warm person and he was known to be cool and aloof to strangers, but that's a far cry from ordering people not to address him. I call urban rumor on this one.

To say urban rumor is very redundant. Its common knowledge that Urban Meyer invented the Urban legend (or rumor if you will). Saying both words is just over kill.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

BB, you still can't sue because you have an unpleasant boss. The "working environment" classification means sexual harrassment, which wouldn't remotely apply in this case. On top of it all, a couple of years ago, the US Supreme Court decided that the age amendment to the Civil Rights Act didn't apply to states and all UA employees are employees of the state, so it's pretty much up in the air as to how much the State is bound to follow of the rest of that act. In any event, forget the courts. That's not a problem here. Now, having had Coach Bryant as the coach for all my years at UA except my freshman year, whenever he walked around campus, the most he would do would be to nod or grunt when you passed him, if he did that. That sounds a great deal like Saban. None of us would have dared to say more than "hello." In short, I think this whole thing is a tempest in a tea pot. I care a lot more about whether or not our coach has a winning record than whether his hall behavior is "PC."

 

[Bamabuzzard]

BB, you still can't sue because you have an unpleasant boss. The "working environment" classification means sexual harrassment, which wouldn't remotely apply in this case. On top of it all, a couple of years ago, the US Supreme Court decided that the age amendment to the Civil Rights Act didn't apply to states and all UA employees are employees of the state, so it's pretty much up in the air as to how much the State is bound to follow of the rest of that act. In any event, forget the courts. That's not a problem here. Now, having had Coach Bryant as the coach for all my years at UA except my freshman year, whenever he walked around campus, the most he would do would be to nod or grunt when you passed him, if he did that. That sounds a great deal like Saban. None of us would have dared to say more than "hello." In short, I think this whole thing is a tempest in a tea pot. I care a lot more about whether or not our coach has a winning record than whether his hall behavior is "PC."

Obviously the rules are different with state employees. But I know for a fact that if an employee reports to HR about a work environment problem the company (especially a publicly traded company) BETTER show some sort of paper trail that they investigated the employee's complaint. That's not an assumption but a fact I watched play out at my company in the summer of 2005. Again, obviously the rules are different with government employees.

Just curious, I wonder what would happen if personnel continued to speak and make eye contact with Saban even though there is an "unwritten policy" not to speak unless spoken to? Would he reprimand them? Reprimanding (such as taking disciplinary actions against them) for simply speaking or looking at someone might cause some legal issues in a non governmental company.

 

[TideFever]

In short, I think this whole thing is a tempest in a tea pot. I care a lot more about whether or not our coach has a winning record than whether his hall behavior is "PC."

I don't see this as a matter of "political correctness," but instead, a matter of how someone treats others. Is it a big deal? I suppose not, you can always try to find another job if you don't like it, but my stance is I certainly don't find it necessary to treat others that way.

For what it's worth, I'll clarify what I said before. The policy is relayed to his subordinates by Todd Alles, Director of Football Operations, not by Saban himself. He is either told by Saban to initiate this policy, or Alles simply assumes this should be how it works. Either way, I find it silly and unnecessary, but different strokes for different folks.

 

[lafella]

As long as he's not walking around with a rolled up newspaper smacking people on the nose for talking, it's all good.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

No it wouldn't, although there's a lot of "street wisdom" out there that it does. The federal basket of categories into which workplace issues can be placed is very limited, "common knowledge" to the contrary notwithstanding. I have no earthly idea about LA, where you are, but I can assure you that a reprimand for affective behavior given you by your boss in Alabama - in a governmental or non-governmental environment - is totally without remedy by the employee. IOW, if it doesn't fit in the "race, color, creed, age or disability" cubbyholes, forget about it. (Enforcement is so weak with the EEOC, you'd better have a really egregious, provable case, or you can forget about it, even if does fit one of the Civil Rights Act categories.) Now, I see the possibility for real harm to be done here with ill-informed guesses about employment law in Alabama. Please confine posts in this thread to feelings about pros and cons of Saban's social behavior and drop discussion of legal issues. You can email me or PM me, but I don't want to see this turn into a legal thread. I'm too busy practicing law to have the time to deal with it...

 

[wastedmason]

I still don't think it's necessary to treat those who are working for you in such a way, but whatever...

I understand where you are coming from and to a degree I agree, You should never treat anyone that way. But I have buddied up to my help before and always was took advantage of. Sometimes you get more out of your helpers if they fear losing their jobs instead of just upsetting the boss. As far as the media goes, they will write for the most part uncomplementary stories and opinions about Bama and coach Saban. At least till he proves himself.

Then they will be on the bandwagon saying what a great everything that happened was and they knew it all along. That is the day I long for! Don't think any of his fellow workers are mad enough about it to quit. They are riding his coat tails to riches and fame I promise!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Well, I guess this is one of those threads where just about everything has been said, the line has been drawn in the sand and folks are lining up to spit over it. I'll close it out with a final thought. Saban has never been known for his social graces. Any of our LA members can confirm that immediately. He's never been known as a warm, fuzzy, friendly guy and he's not going to change now. Those who are unhappy with his gruffness are entitled to their opinions, but it's not new and most of us who've followed his career anticipated it. It's part of the package, like it or not...