I Think Coach Saban Has Finally Found "Home".

[Alasippi]

Coach Saban said in a few post game interviews that he enjoys the game more now, and that, "It's not so much about me anymore...I feel I'm a good coach now."

That may seem like an off the wall statement, but think about it.

He was an assistant on coaching staffs that got fired and he paid his dues for 23 years before being given a head coaching position.

Even after winning a national title at LSU I think he felt some need to prove himself by maybe becoming the first coach to win a national title and a Super Bowl, so he left for the Dolphins only to learn that the NFL wasn't his calling.

Then, he found Sweet Home Alabama, the place where his expectations were not only matched but cherished by the greatest fan base in America.

He was given the resources he needed to be the best that he could be as a coach, not just in a paycheck, but in a total commitment from the athletic program to provide his players with every possible opportunity to make themselves better as players and students.

Most importantly I think he felt the appreciation of just how much respect he has earned by doing his job beyond well.

I think by proving to himself that he could revive the greatest football program and tradition in America and that he is so beloved for doing so that he has every intention of ending his coaching career in a town called Tuscaloosa.

He is indeed an ambitious coach, but even the greatest of achievers finally find a place where they realize, "There's no step up..and no place better to go."

It's a place called home, and I think Coach S. is finally there.

sip

 

[Bear Disciple]

My only complaint when he first got here was that he treated it so much like a job and that he didn't necessarily love the University like the greats before him, but I now think that has greatly changed since his earliest years. I believe when he took that lap around the Rose Bowl on January 7th, 2010 to acknowledge and congratulate the fans, he felt like he finally found the place he would end, the place he belonged. Ever since that day, it's become even more than a job for him, and he feels part of the tradition and he is proud of that. It was a great assembly on both sides the day he signed with us... a famed program in desperate need of help, and a fantastic coach looking for a place the call home and end his career. I think it's safe to say we each got what we needed.

 

[twofbyc]

I think Jimmy Johnson won both....

I think CNS, when he took the job, realized that the Bama Nation matched his passion for excellence, and there weren't many other places he could find that. He now knows he's home, until he heads to the lake.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

Great post sip

 

[TommyMac]

I think we had him since his first A-Day when he looked up and saw a packed house with more trying to get in. I think he realized that he had found a place that matched his passion and intensity.

 

[tungi01]

My only complaint when he first got here was that he treated it so much like a job and that he didn't necessarily love the University like the greats before him, but I now think that has greatly changed since his earliest years. I believe when he took that lap around the Rose Bowl on January 7th, 2010 to acknowledge and congratulate the fans, he felt like he finally found the place he would end, the place he belonged. Ever since that day, it's become even more than a job for him, and he feels part of the tradition and he is proud of that. It was a great assembly on both sides the day he signed with us... a famed program in desperate need of help, and a fantastic coach looking for a place the call home and end his career. I think it's safe to say we each got what we needed.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/179022-nick-saban-on-why-he-is-a-part-of-the-bama-nation

Don't know if you ever read this article by Larry Burton, but it's really a good one. No he did not "love" the University when he first started. But in all fairness, how could he? He had absolutely no ties to us. Just like he had no ties to LSU but he grew to love it. Now he is grown to love Alabama. He's had more success here now than he had at LSU or any other coaching job, he's turned the Alabama head coaching job back into a dream position, he has UNLIMITED support, resources, admiration, and he is on top... He does not want to go back to the NFL and he will not leave Alabama for any other coaching gig. He's home and as he stated so eloquently, "I'm proud to be part of this family, and I'll be here until you run me off or I just can't do it anymore.."

 

[Proxigean Tide]

That was a great read tungi01

 

[deliveryman35]

I think Jimmy Johnson won both....

I think CNS, when he took the job, realized that the Bama Nation matched his passion for excellence, and there weren't many other places he could find that. He now knows he's home, until he heads to the lake.

...and Barry Switzer.

I actually think Coach Saban and Ms. Terry have felt 'at home' now for quite some time.....

 

[Dakotatider]

I think one of the times he realized you will have 101,000 fans at every game. When you have a avg 85 to 90k for a glorified scrimmage(A day game). The Support is there when you have a coach that brings excellence and expect perfect play like every Alabama Fan out there.

 

[SimplyTide]

I think, as much as anything else, he has finally found some sort of inner peace.

 

[deliveryman35]

I think we had him since his first A-Day when he looked up and saw a packed house with more trying to get in. I think he realized that he had found a place that matched his passion and intensity.

This^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Crimson1967]

He's staying here? But this guy I work with said he heard from his sister's neighbor's preacher's nephew's best friend's cousin's boss who heard from a reliable source that Saban will be taking the Texas job.

 

[BAMAccounting10]

I've never seen Saban as happy as he was after the championship game monday vs lsu. The best part is that he's just getting started! RTR

 

[CoolBreeze]

Coach Saban said in a few post game interviews that he enjoys the game more now, and that, "It's not so much about me anymore...I feel I'm a good coach now."

That may seem like an off the wall statement, but think about it.

He was an assistant on coaching staffs that got fired and he paid his dues for 23 years before being given a head coaching position.

Even after winning a national title at LSU I think he felt some need to prove himself by maybe becoming the first coach to win a national title and a Super Bowl, so he left for the Dolphins only to learn that the NFL wasn't his calling.

Then, he found Sweet Home Alabama, the place where his expectations were not only matched but cherished by the greatest fan base in America.

He was given the resources he needed to be the best that he could be as a coach, not just in a paycheck, but in a total commitment from the athletic program to provide his players with every possible opportunity to make themselves better as players and students.

Most importantly I think he felt the appreciation of just how much respect he has earned by doing his job beyond well.

I think by proving to himself that he could revive the greatest football program and tradition in America and that he is so beloved for doing so that he has every intention of ending his coaching career in a town called Tuscaloosa.

He is indeed an ambitious coach, but even the greatest of achievers finally find a place where they realize, "There's no step up..and no place better to go."

It's a place called home, and I think Coach S. is finally there.

sip

This post makes my top ten favorites off all times on this site Sip. I agree with you. I heard Dr. Elko on Finebaum today saying how much Terry loves T Town and how that have both reached out to the community. Yes, home indeed for the Sabans is here and they will both have eternal admiration from the Bama Nation Worldwide.

 

[p'colabamaman]

As a testament to how much he has mellowed, after the game, he was asked about the Gatorade shower and he said "I loved it!" He wasn't all that happy about it after the '09 NCG. Of course, he wasn't conked in the head with the cooler this time.

 

[silverstangboy]

I think Saban grew some respect for the state and T town itself after the Tornadoes. the way that this community responded to those tragedys was impressive. Even I grew alot of respect for my home town after that... You didn't see alot of hands being held out from the gimmie crowd, and alot of people did so much they didn't have to in order to help others in need, even if it was sacrificial to themselves.

That sort of activity isn't normal, even though for most of us its considered a "given" I do believe our community is different from most in that respect.

 

[MOAN]

I think if he were 40 year old instead of 60 we would all have a reason to worry. He tasted the NFL waters and didn't like the taste, and that taste is greed. He doesn't coach for the money he coaches because he loves coaching. Being good at it certainly has brought him wealth but its not his driving force, money that is. Of course living in the places he has lived during his coaching career certainly has to have given him a perspective on people from different areas and no doubt living amongst Alabamians is not a bad thing!

 

[bamagradinATL]

I've never seen Saban as happy as he was after the championship game monday vs lsu. The best part is that he's just getting started! RTR

I agree. During the poast game celebration, I looked at my wife and said "I don't think he was this happy when we beat Texas after the 2009 season."

 

[Clubfitter]

Great thread Sip.

 

[CapstoneTider]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/179022-nick-saban-on-why-he-is-a-part-of-the-bama-nation

Don't know if you ever read this article by Larry Burton, but it's really a good one. No he did not "love" the University when he first started. But in all fairness, how could he? He had absolutely no ties to us. Just like he had no ties to LSU but he grew to love it. Now he is grown to love Alabama. He's had more success here now than he had at LSU or any other coaching job, he's turned the Alabama head coaching job back into a dream position, he has UNLIMITED support, resources, admiration, and he is on top... He does not want to go back to the NFL and he will not leave Alabama for any other coaching gig. He's home and as he stated so eloquently, "I'm proud to be part of this family, and I'll be here until you run me off or I just can't do it anymore.."

Along with the opening statements by Sip, the above link is just a great read from the BR and the remarks by Saban in the article reinforce this thread to a tee. Will put the link on bottom too.

Why Nick Saban Is Part of 'Bama Nation

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/179022-nick-saban-on-why-he-is-a-part-of-the-bama-nation