Saban ready to 'start all over again' at Alabama

[Ole Man Dan]

The biggest problem with what Alabama was trying to do this season, and really the past few seasons was due to the simple fact that there was no margin for error.

So, even when Saban missed out on key recruits, even when he lost key coaches, even when he faced key injuries, he really couldn't change anything. That might not sound like much, but imagine as a coach being locked into what you're doing and having no room for adjustments. Auburn made massive adjustments, and had fantastic success doing so, but they had nothing to lose. Alabama had everything to lose.

There was also a certain weariness, a sense of dread, we all were fearing that one event that broke Alabama's streak. It made it difficult to enjoy anything, and I found myself saying things like "I just hope no one gets injured", rather than the logical "I just hope Alabama wins". When you can't enjoy winning, it really saps a lot of energy out of the process.

Now, hopefully everything is reset. Hopefully the fans will find new enthusiasm and energy, and hopefully Nick Saban feels free to take some risks, to make adjustments, and to set Alabama up for another great run. It's not all about 4 and 5 star players, ask USC. There's a lot more to it than that, and I'm looking forward to the possibility of another great run by Alabama.

Got my 'Re-Set' Button pushed... Bad Bob better start their Sooner wagon going in circles... We are coming.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I hope to see us come out next year, mean and nasty. No mercy, No let up... Marching into the playoffs.

 

[Special K]

I think this is something CNS has been coming to grips with. He has never really been anywhere long enough to create this level of expectation over a long stretch. Sounds like he is likely to take a bit different approach to handling it next year.

Absolutely. Sounds a lot like what Coach Bryant did after the 1970 season, only we didn't have to go 6-5 this time for the wakeup call. This is going to get ugly for everyone else. Seriously, Saban may very well eat Gus Malzahn's children.

 

[BigBama76]

I hope to see us come out next year, mean and nasty. No mercy, No let up... Marching into the playoffs.

The mean and nasty seems to be one of the things missing this year. You could say that about the 2009 and 2011 defenses. You could say that about the 2012 offense. I want to hear and see more dominate the man in front of you and making them quit.

 

[UA All the Way]

I have to think Auburn is Public Enemy #1. Saban has put every other program in their place except Auburn. He's been pretty diplomatic with Auburn the past 7 years actually. With what Malzhan did to us this year I have to think Saban is ready to settle the score.

 

[Bluegrasstide]

I think that it is an interesting glimpse into his mindset. This is the attitude that will be projected to the team from here on out. Kind of neat to be privy to how coach internally motivates himself. It is a bit off topic, but I bet we see a shift to a happy medium between our offense this year and the one under McElroy.

 

[BamaFlum]

He likes challenges. He has always had the challenge of building but he has never built and maintained. This is he new mission. How will he take the monster he created and control it? If any one can figure it out, Coach can.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, so my fat fingers cause misspellings and autocorrect makes my ships into...

 

[Alasippi]

Scott Cochran might describe it..."He's Hawwwngry...Yeahhhhhhhh"!

 

[mhiggy45]

Absolutely. Sounds a lot like what Coach Bryant did after the 1970 season, only we didn't have to go 6-5 this time for the wakeup call. This is going to get ugly for everyone else. Seriously, Saban may very well eat Gus Malzahn's children.

My sides hurt on this post. I can't stop laughing, kinda like when u get a bad case of the hiccups. Thank you for this post:wink:

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

I like that thinking, and getting the bubble burst might be what the doctor ordered for everyone.

I do know one thing, Coach Saban will be much less third person when referring to future Iron Bowls. I think this game won him over to our way of thinking about the barn.

Not again.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

With AJ leaving it does feel like an end of an era and now with Coach re-upping start of a new one. For the players though it's not really uncharted territory. It's besting what came before. It's quite possible that the next phase could more than duplicate what's been done.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[TIDE-HSV]

With AJ leaving it does feel like an end of an era and now with Coach re-upping start of a new one. For the players though it's not really uncharted territory. It's besting what came before. It's quite possible that the next phase could more than duplicate what's been done.


Sent from my iPhone

I think the biggest question mark is the QB for the first time in several years. I'm not saying there aren't others, there are, but it all starts with decent QB play...

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

I think the biggest question mark is the QB for the first time in several years. I'm not saying there aren't others, there are, but it all starts with decent QB play...

Yeah, I'm gonna add O-Line to that as well. We are loosing two good ones, but it's nowhere near like it will be this year.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Yeah, I'm gonna add O-Line to that as well. We are loosing two good ones, but it's nowhere near like it will be this year.


Sent from my iPhone

Yes, but also DL and secondary. For the former, we may need some youngsters to come through. At least it's the position the easiest for a young player to make a breakthrough and we have some very talented youngsters coming in. In the secondary, we just need to heal up...

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

Yes, but also DL and secondary. For the former, we may need some youngsters to come through. At least it's the position the easiest for a young player to make a breakthrough and we have some very talented youngsters coming in. In the secondary, we just need to heal up...

I think the DL will be fine. We are only losing Stinson and with A. Robinson in the program for a full year he'll be wonderful. I agree with the secondary. That was a problem all year.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[CoolBreeze]

Now, hopefully everything is reset. Hopefully the fans will find new enthusiasm and energy, and hopefully Nick Saban feels free to take some risks, to make adjustments, and to set Alabama up for another great run. It's not all about 4 and 5 star players, ask USC. There's a lot more to it than that, and I'm looking forward to the possibility of another great run by Alabama.

As fans, maybe we can fill Bryant Denny to capacity at the Spring game and stay for 60 minutes. Maybe we can also fill it when we play East Podunk University and say to the last whistle. I think this an opportunity for all of us to take this thing to the next level and set a new standard as a fan base. In fact, I think I will check into finding some Sugar Bowl tickets today. :BigA:

 

[JIB]

Act I - processing players - 2007 to 2008. It ended with the Sugar Bowl
Act II - processing everyone else - 2009 to now.

i guess we'll see a shorter version of act 1 followed by act 2.

 

[Florida Tom]

I think the biggest question mark is the QB for the first time in several years. I'm not saying there aren't others, there are, but it all starts with decent QB play...

I'm not sure everyone realizes just what we lost with AJ finishing school. He came in second in the Heisman voting & had things been done properly he could have won it. Hey, but when you count on this state for Justice, you can flip a coin.

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

Saban concedes that the dynamic at Alabama has changed, but that’s just part of the deal when you win three of the most recent four national championships.

This will be the first time since 2010 that the Crimson Tide haven’t hoisted that crystal trophy at season’s end.

“The expectations are what they are here, and we don’t run around talking about them,” Saban said. “We created them, and we’ll handle them.”

Everyone feels pressure, even Nick Saban. "Starting over" is a good way to deal with the expectations that CNS has created at Alabama. Acknowledging that the expectations exist simply shows that the man doesn't have his head buried in the sand. We want to win and he knows it. He wants to win and knows how.

I have no doubt that he's going to have the team focused on what they're supposed to be focused on. I'm not sure what the results will be next year, but I'm glad that CNS is there trying to put it all together. History tells us that CNS "starting over" eventually leads to this:

​

If not next year, then relatively soon.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

I love it, this is the mindset that I bet the recruits love. They will love being part of this history.