Alabama head coach Nick Saban gave one of the telling signs behind the Crimson Tide’s loss to Tennessee.
Will Anderson Jr., an outside linebacker, confirmed the sign in Monday’s interview. Saban and Anderson said the team suffered from ‘high anxiety’ in pregame. No one was chanting or having fun coming out of the tunnel, and Saban said the team ‘looked tight’ in pregame warmups. The lack of intensity put the Tide behind the 8-ball, and its defense got worked by the Volunteers.
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Alabama fans have heard the talk of improvement and playing better, but they want results. The anxiety from the players has Saban working overtime on things he can do to improve it. During his radio show on Thursday, he talked about how badly this team wants to win. On Monday, Saban mentioned the importance of playing with energy but also playing loose. He wants the athletes to compete; however, Saban gets joy from seeing them have fun. Alabama looks to achieve it Saturday versus Miss. State.
“High achievement motivation and low anxiety is the best way to have the best performance,” he said.
“We just seem to have a lot of (anxiety), and it’s kept me up a lot at night this week trying to figure that out. There’s an old saying, don’t sweat the small stuff. But I think attention to detail and sweating the small stuff is really what our team needs to do better.”
Some of the anxiety could come from too much thinking.
Alabama’s defenses under Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt were so exciting because neither coach allowed the defense to think too much. They simplified the playbook and allowed athletes to fly around, make crushing hits, and have fun. Pete Golding fancies himself as a defensive professor, but he has the players’ minds on overload. This team has a chance to bounce back and run the table in the Southeastern Conference. Everything starts with the leaders of the team showing confidence and no fear.
After a 49-52 loss to the Vols, the Tide needs a dominant showing for homecoming.
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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.
