Bear Byant used to say “It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” Coach Byant was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people paved attention, especially his players. He demanded hard work and installed a winning attitude on his football team. That winning attitude brought six national titles to the University of Alabama. Bear Bryant is known as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, yet, someone may surpass his legendary status(could be premature/sacrilegious) one day. The future legend I speak of, is none other than Nick Saban.
Before coach Saban took one step in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide went through several years of trying to replace Bear Bryant. Maybe there were unrealistic expectations? Who knows, but the bar that Bear Byrant set at the University of Alabama was so high, each coach that walked onto that campus was going to be compared to the Bear. Gene Stallings is the lone exception and he was good(won the 1992 National Title), but he was unable to consistently win and that eventually led him to resign. After a couple of decades of obscurity, bama landed their man-Nick Saban. Now, coach Saban does not have street signs named after him nor is the stadium named after him. However, his fingerprint is etched in his work. You could say that his work ethic, winning attitude, and disciplined nature rubs off on everyone that is around him. Winning is his blood type and he doesn’t know how to function any other way. After nine seasons, he has compiled a record of 101-18 with a winning percentage of .849. Add a long 5 National Titles(4 with Alabama, 1 with LSU), Nick Saban knows how to win, and win some more.
Defense is the name of the game when you talk about Nick Saban. You like stats? Check this out: In the 2011 season, Alabama’s defense only gave up 8.2 points a game. And they only allowed 72.2 rushing yards a game. Not only that, the Tide allowed only 183.6 total yards per game AND 111.5 passing yards per game. Those three averages are the best marks for any defense since the turn of the century. That’s mind-boggling considering today’s college football landscape.
When asked what he enjoyed about winning, he replied “I certainly like to win. But I really hate to lose. So when you think about that, you’re always motivated to, ‘I don’t want to lose the next game. I don’t want to lose the next game.” I read this and ask myself ” does he like to win a lot or is he afraid to lose?” It could be both! This is what I know: If Nick Saban continues to bring championships to Alabama, he could very well be remembered as the greatest college football coach of all time, and even better-I dare say, Bear Bryant.
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