Hey Jack, another banger of an article. As a Bama fan I got to see first hand how Saban impacted the culture at Alabama. Saban took over in 2007 and inherited a fairly ‘soft’ team that wasn’t used to putting in the work that Saban demanded. But he had already won a NC at LSU, so the players bought in, initially. The team played over its heads and was in the Top 10 when it faced #1 LSU late in the year. Bama lost a heartbreaker, and I think the team was expecting a pat on the back, but instead Saban lit into them, told them they gave the game away by not playing hard till the end. For a few of the seniors, that was the last straw, they basically quit on the team, they were sick of Saban fussing at them when the previous coaching staff coddled them. A lot of infighting on the team that week following the LSU loss and the next week, Bama lost to La Monroe in a huge upset. In the off-season, a LOT of those players transfered and Bama went on to go 12-2 the next year and in 2009 won the NC. As Saban would later say, it was about getting the right players on the bus, and in the right seats.
Also about the process, Saban always stressed embracing the process. And I am guilty of this idea of getting distracted by outcomes or at least wanting to see progress along the way in the process. Saban’s motto was Trust the Process, just put in the work and the outcomes will take care of themselves.
One last thing; I love this talk between Kobe and Saban, I love how Kobe embraced and loved the process of doing the work more than the outcome itself, it seems. Kindred spirits, these two:
I didn’t know all of these details! I feel like they only add more to the story.
I really feel like Ohio State has been in a similar spot the last few seasons as that 2007 Alabama team. When Urban Meyer left the program, a large part of the Buckeye culture left with him.
Unfortunately, Ryan Day has not been able to re-establish that mental toughness despite all of the opportunities to do so.
I think there’s too much focus on wins and not enough on building toughness into the preparation process.
Ironically, I think Alabama is dealing with culture shock again now that Saban is gone and DeBoer seems to be wanting the players to ‘loosen up’ a bit. I think some players are getting too loose lol. It will take a year or two for them to get it dialed in I suspect. Weird year so far in college football.
Hey Jack, another banger of an article. As a Bama fan I got to see first hand how Saban impacted the culture at Alabama. Saban took over in 2007 and inherited a fairly ‘soft’ team that wasn’t used to putting in the work that Saban demanded. But he had already won a NC at LSU, so the players bought in, initially. The team played over its heads and was in the Top 10 when it faced #1 LSU late in the year. Bama lost a heartbreaker, and I think the team was expecting a pat on the back, but instead Saban lit into them, told them they gave the game away by not playing hard till the end. For a few of the seniors, that was the last straw, they basically quit on the team, they were sick of Saban fussing at them when the previous coaching staff coddled them. A lot of infighting on the team that week following the LSU loss and the next week, Bama lost to La Monroe in a huge upset. In the off-season, a LOT of those players transfered and Bama went on to go 12-2 the next year and in 2009 won the NC. As Saban would later say, it was about getting the right players on the bus, and in the right seats.
Also about the process, Saban always stressed embracing the process. And I am guilty of this idea of getting distracted by outcomes or at least wanting to see progress along the way in the process. Saban’s motto was Trust the Process, just put in the work and the outcomes will take care of themselves.
One last thing; I love this talk between Kobe and Saban, I love how Kobe embraced and loved the process of doing the work more than the outcome itself, it seems. Kindred spirits, these two:
https://youtu.be/7HkR5uWlIEc?si=Zsfzn5rXN5qvRLKV
I didn’t know all of these details! I feel like they only add more to the story.
I really feel like Ohio State has been in a similar spot the last few seasons as that 2007 Alabama team. When Urban Meyer left the program, a large part of the Buckeye culture left with him.
Unfortunately, Ryan Day has not been able to re-establish that mental toughness despite all of the opportunities to do so.
I think there’s too much focus on wins and not enough on building toughness into the preparation process.
Ironically, I think Alabama is dealing with culture shock again now that Saban is gone and DeBoer seems to be wanting the players to ‘loosen up’ a bit. I think some players are getting too loose lol. It will take a year or two for them to get it dialed in I suspect. Weird year so far in college football.