He has coached six national championship teams and eight Southeastern Conference Championship teams in 17 seasons as head coach of the University of Alabama football program.
Nick Saban has achieved all kinds of success at the collegiate level, but there is something he loves about the roster of players he has this year. The Crimson Tide has a loss on its record; however, it is in the driver’s seat to win the SEC West and play for a conference championship. Alabama does not have a perfect team, but it’s found ways to win games and grow together as a unit.
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It has an opportunity at Bryant-Denny Stadium to restart a streak of victories against Tennessee in its annual “Third Saturday in October” rivalry. The Volunteers got the better of Saban and the Tide last year at Neyland Stadium. Saban joined the SEC Network crew to discuss why this year’s team has been a joy for him to coach. He loves the toughness of this group.
Nick Saban on what makes this @AlabamaFTBL team special: pic.twitter.com/3uz7aczSkD
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 21, 2023
“I think this team is young or whatever you want to call it, and it has taken a different type of patience to coach, develop, learn lessons, and not let them get frustrated when things don’t go right,” Saban said. “Last week, to maintain intensity in the game. We got ahead 24-6 in the game, and we lost focus as a team and let the other team back into the game. These are all lessons that this team is learning, so it has been challenging but it’s been fun to be the teacher to help them grow through that.”
Saban said when you have a young team, more challenges are involved with putting guys in positions to succeed.
The objective is to handle Tennesssee in its eighth game of the year. Alabama needs to have a complete game on offense and defense to show the College Football Playoff Committee it’s one of the best four teams in the nation
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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.
