You think Nick Saban is perfect? Think the Alabama coach can do no wrong?
Think again.
What the man is, of course, is focused. He’s the most focused person I’ve ever met. From now on, when people ask me about that declaration, I’ll tell this story that he told us Saturday after practice as Exhibit A.
Saban bristled at a question about his schedule the past two weeks — since things had “slowed down” without games to play.
“Call my wife and ask her how busy I’ve been,” the coach said after Alabama’s first practice since the SEC championship game. “She’s ... I’m catching it on both ends. I’m catching it from you like I didn’t do anything for the last two weeks and ...”
He left it there. But we’ll return to that pause later.
Assuming that Saban ever slows down — for those who have covered him for the past three seasons — is almost laughable. He is tireless. No, he’s relentless, especially when it comes to recruiting. Throw in preparing for the BCS national championship game against Texas and, yeah, you understand things are pretty busy at the Saban household.
“We’ve been two-fold in what we’re trying to do. These two weeks are our only two weeks that we can recruit,” Saban said. “We covered a lot of ground over a two-week period in terms of recruiting.
“Also, trying to prepare for this game. It takes a lot of time to look at the tapes. It’s a new opponent for us. We haven’t seen a lot of them.
“Our entire coaching staff is trying to do that. Now we’re practicing, preparing for the game at the same time. We’ve been very, very busy. Try to solve one problem at a time, just like we do in the game.”
Saban spent a little over 14 minutes with the media after Saturday’s practice.
He talked about understanding, again, that the love the fans have showered his way is conditional on winning. He understands that. That’s the business.
“I’m just hoping that I don’t get kicked. ’Cause the dogs get treated better than me when I’m home,” he said.
An odd comment — until he explained it a bit further.
“It was my anniversary yesterday and I forgot,” Saban admitted.
Oops.
“I didn’t know what day it was. So things are not going real well right now.
“There’s a few things that she ought to know. When I go recruiting for two straight weeks I kind of lose track of the date and the time and all that.
“So, I have a wonderful wife. She’s very understanding and very supportive. She’s been very beneficial to helping us be successful. I do appreciate it. I wish her a happy anniversary even though it’s a day late.”
So that’s how focused he is.
And that’s why, someday, Terry Saban should be considered for sainthood.
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