He is not bothered by as many things as he’s gotten older, but there is one aspect that gets under Nick Saban’s skin as Alabama’s head football coach.
The 72-year-old explained his biggest pet peeve during his radio show on Wednesday as he enjoys Thanksgiving with his family and players.
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Coach Saban is set to make his ninth trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday for the Iron Bowl against Auburn. He is 4-4 all time versus the Tigers on the road and 11-5 all time against Auburn in his career at Alabama.
Saban said there are “a few players” that violate his rule of not talking to the other team, including practice. He said it “upsets him to no end.”
“But it still happens,” Saban said. “The more arrogant you are, probably the more it happens. I hate to say that. I hate to say that about any player. I hate to say that about any player on our team. The more arrogant you are, the more you think you’re being disrespected when you somebody says something to you and you react poorly to it, and bad things happen.”
Saban and Paul W. “Bear” Bryant are alike in being coaches of high class character. Saban wants his players to respect the opponent. He does not want the Crimson Tide over looking anyone or playing down to the competition. Saban likes when his teams play with attitude but not arrogance.
We will see what version of Alabama we will get in Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup.
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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.
