The usual avid golfer in Nick Saban was seen taking in the Regions Tradition, an official major Championship on the PGA Tour Champions, on Wednesday.
Since his hip replacement surgery after spring practice and returning to his office at the University of Alabama on the following day, the 67-year-old is not at full strength yet but he did do some chipping and putting on the course.
He has mixed feelings about not being able to go through his full swing; however, the loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship matchup has him anxious to return to coaching.
Jeff Allen, the Crimson Tide’s athletic trainer, and team doctors have taken Saban through a tough rehab, but they have not pushed him too much.
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“As an athlete you always try to push to get through the pain,” Saban said. “This is one that you want to push it, but not to the pain. I’m still adjusting to that.”
For the former high school quarterback at West Virginia and defensive back at Kent State University, Saban takes pride in letting his players know that they have nothing on him.
Upon being asked about whether or not he was surprised by how quickly he has recovered from surgery, the six-time national champion responded with a little humor.
“Yeah, but like I tell the players all the time… They don’t make then like they use to and there is not many of us left, so I would not expect for them to recover as fast. It is what it is,” Saban said with a smile.
He intends on being 100 percent healthy in six weeks, but when it comes to taking it easy – Saban is not for it. As supportive as Miss Terry is to him, she could not get the Alabama football head coach to stay put.
This is good for Tide fans and should worry the remainder of college football, seeing how he stated that he wants to coach for more years.
“I lasted for six hours and I did not have anything to do with the players,” Saban said on what happened following his surgery. “I sat at home for six hours in a chair. Miss Terry took the dogs to the lake and then I was walking around out the yard. When she got back, she said ‘I’m going to call the doctor or the police on you if you don’t get back in the house.’ I just don’t sit still well.”
When one is trying to pull that he still has the game by the throat, you cannot blame Saban for being a little restless. After all, he looks to put away the conversation of Dabo Swinney and Clemson has surpassed him and the Tide in terms of success.
He has a hungry team returning for next fall and his rehab has been great.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
