He has seen different forms of motivation lead the University of Alabama football to national championships in his tenure, but Nick Saban is seeing help for this Crimson Tide team in all facets.
Cedric Burns, a long-time coordinator for athletics relations, was on the sideline behind Coach Saban pumping the players up during last week’s 49-21 victory for the Tide over Kentucky. Burns has been one of the longest-tenured assistants under Saban since he arrived in 2007. Terrion Arnold, a redshirt sophomore, explained another unique secret weapon that’s kept players focused on the main thing this season. Alabama captured an SEC Western Division title and will play for an SEC Championship.
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“Everybody needs a Miss Terry,” Arnold said after the Kentucky game about Terry Saban. “I feel like she is the secret we have. She had texted me. She always sends me texts on Sundays about motivating the guys and staying focused.”
Miss Terry gave Arnold the idea of having rat traps in the locker room, giving players the message not to get caught in the trap of rat poison before the Kentucky game. Everyone listened, and Alabama earned a 49-21 victory over the Wildcats.
Terry Saban was on the field hugging Arnold after the Crimson Tide’s huge road victory against Texas A&M. She also sang “Dixieland Delight” proudly as Tide fans smoked out Bryant-Denny Stadium versus Tennessee. She has been a critical part of the team’s success as Coach Saban had to grow with this unit. Miss Terry also had to ignite the passion in her husband to get fired up on the sideline again. She did it against Mississippi State, and it led to the Tide dominating the Bulldogs in the second half.
Miss Terry has been significant to Alabama’s success since 2009; however, she’s been at the forefront of it this year.
Alabama remains with an opportunity to play for a College Football Playoff National Championship.
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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.
