Nearly two weeks after taking the Alabama job, Nick Saban sat down with ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a two part interview to explain the rationale behind his decision (video coming soon). During the time prior to this interview, Saban has been called everything but a child of God (well, except in Alabama where he may have been referred to as God; at minimum a god). Don Shula has ripped him a new one, the LSU fan base has labeled him a traitor, and it's been rumored there is a picture of Saban next to "liar" in Webster's latest edition.
Frankly I am tired of this issue, and the hype surrounding it. Despite that, I couldn't help but watch last night and even write about it today. All the time folks were questioning Saban's character, did anybody really ask him why he lied? Did anybody make an effort to make sense of his actions in this situation? No, not really. Well at least until Sunday evening, and then again Monday evening.
As far as why Saban took the job, I understand that completely. What man wouldn't want to be in a situation that he felt was better for him? Saban enjoys the college game and felt the Alabama job was a more "secure" situation. He seems to have a genuine passion for helping develop young players, something you can't do much of at the professional level. Saban did what was in his heart, and that's all any of us can ask for. Good for him!
Now comes the lying part. Why did Saban flat out say he was not interested in the Alabama job. Well in the interview he explained he was not at the time he made that bold statement. Fair enough, I suppose. I guess a lot can happen in, oh...48 or so hours. Even so, he went on to say, denying going to Alabama was the only way he could finish his NFL season in peace; to not be a distraction to his players. Again, fair enough. But still, I just couldn't get over the fact he lied.
When the news first came out that Saban lied, I thought it was bush league. I thought he should have dropped a "No comment", and moved on. I thought he could have, and should have, done anything but lie. But while listening to his interview, I put myself in his shoes. What would I do? Would I have done the same thing? I mean how many times have I sought employment yet didn't tell my boss, and all the while act as if everything was just fine? How many times have I filled out a job application and checked off the box "do not contact present employer", because I didn't want my current company to know? Is that so bad. Ask yourself, have you ever done that?
In my eyes, that is all Saban did. He did it on a much larger scale, and it affected more people than I ever will. But really he didn't do anything millions of people don't do everyday. He's been getting unfairly raked across the coals for doing what we all do: lie about leaving a job until we know we really can leave. And let's be honest; if he would have said "I am considering the Alabama job" people would still be calling him greedy, selfish, sleazy and basically everything else he's been called (except liar, I suppose). Maybe he didn't take the highest of roads, but maybe it was the best road all things considered. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like worried about what millions of people think of me. Trying to please everybody, all of the time. Heck, it's hard enough pleasing my wife.
All I'm saying is, cut the man a break. Coaching is a strange business. If a coach can be fired on a whim, why is it so bad of they leave on a whim? The Dolphins will be fine, and obviously Alabama is in good shape.
Besides, maybe honesty isn't always the best policy. Just ask Jim Mora, Jr.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
I still think there was a better way to handle it. Simply saying, "I am committed to making this team better but if something comes along that would truly benefit my family I would have to strongly consider it." It's a natural human response and something people would understand. Plus, it has been widely speculated that Alabama had been in contact with Saban for over a month before he made his decision to head to Bama. I just can't let the guy off the hook for it.
This is the finest piece of jouranlism ever written.
Great viewpoint, and I'm wondering why it hasn't been shared by others. From Alabama's perspective, they got Saban for Shula. Upgrade? You better believe it. Money? The football program at Alabama generated a $27 million profit last year. Much more profit expected this year. So, they had the funds to make it happen. (The football program donated $1 million to Alabama's general scholarship fund). From Saban's perspective, he went back to coaching the type players he likes to coach. Many others have "lied" about potential football coaching moves, yet Saban seems to have gotten raked over the coals more than any I can remember. Why? The only reason I've been able to come up with is that the media finds it particularly distasteful for a pro coach to leave for a college job. The media was also basically cutting and pasting the venom coming from the local Miami sports media. Don Shula? He should have kept his mouth shut. He can't be objective. Saban left Don's kingdom and was hired at the place where his son was fired. Don's coming across like a bitter old man. Thanks for adding some neutral perspective to this story.
good analysis and fair. saban was fine in his responses until he was pushed to where he said "i guess i'll have to say it, i'm not going to be the coach at alabama". even here there is equivocation if you listen to the complete statement, which is rarely completely quoted. the only thing quoted is, "i'm not going to be the coach at alabama".
Good read with a little different viewpoint. That being said, if I hear one more thing on Nick Saban I think I might throw up.
This is better than any sports journalism that I've read in the last month.
As an LSU fan I understood Saban leaving LSU to try NFL coaching. 2 years later it wasn't going well so he wanted back in college football . Ok I can accept that but as an LSU fan try to understand how it fells to have him getting back in college football as a conference opponants coach.
Your pretense that we all lie to improve our position in life is atrocious and untrue. What has everyone at LSU upset is that we are examining the man not by this one lie, but by the many lies and misleading statemnets he has made. We examine the man; whereas, you are examining one incident.
Your pretense that we all lie to improve our position in life is atrocious and untrue. What has everyone at LSU upset is that we are examining the man not by this one lie, but by the many lies and misleading statemnets he has made. We examine the man; whereas, you are examining one incident.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your opinion is respected and thank you for visiting the blog. I hope you continue to support our efforts.
I was not making the point we lie to get further in life. I was just simply stating a fact, people do not trun in their two weeks notice before they know the have another job. And frankly, they don't tell their boss they are looking for fear of what that can lead to.
You are correct, I am examining this incident and not the man, beacuse well I don't know the man.
You are clueless. Saban sent feelers to bama about the job weeks before it was open. In doing so he worked behind the scenes to get Mike SHula fired to take his job. Then he called Mike Shula a friend and said it was wrong to fire him.
He lied to his father, Don Shula, to his face about it. Then quit on his commitment to turn the fins around because his ego couldn't take his first losing season as a headcoach. He's a liar a backstabber and a failure. It's not about what he told some reporter. It's what he did to backstab people he calls his friends.
You are clueless. Saban sent feelers to bama about the job weeks before it was open. In doing so he worked behind the scenes to get Mike SHula fired to take his job. Then he called Mike Shula a friend and said it was wrong to fire him. He lied to his father, Don Shula, to his face about it. Then quit on his commitment to turn the fins around because his ego couldn't take his first losing season as a headcoach. He's a liar a backstabber and a failure. It's not about what he told some reporter. It's what he did to backstab people he calls his friends.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It seems we will simply agree to disagree about this situation. Do I think Saban had interest in getting back to college (for whatever reasons)? Yes I do. Do I think he orchestrated this whole thing as it seems you are suggesting? Well no. I'm not buying Saban was making decisions for BAMAs athletic departement while being the 'Fins coach, and he decided Mike Shula's future. If that makes me "clueless", so be it.
Once again, thanks for visiting and thanks for continuing to add perspective. That's what we love here at CFB Paradise.
You sure you don't want to run for the democratic party this year Ace?
You sure you don't want to run for the democratic party this year Ace?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm not even sure what this means, so maybe I shouldn't even respond. But anyway, I'll assume this some indirect way of saying I'm not taking a side, flip flopping, or whatever.
Well I stated my side in the article. Nothing in my comments to these responses is any different from that article. In the article, in a nutshell, I DO state Saban had interest in the BAMA. I just said he didn't tell the whole world about it; and as stated in the article I don't think anybody would.
Where "anonymous" and I differ, is he (or she, possibly) is trying to tell me Saban sent "feelers" out for the job, and then orchestrated Shula's firing. That I do not beleive.
There is a big difference between me saying BAMA offered Saban a job, he was interested, and then told everybody he wasn't (which in short is what my article says) and "anonymous" saying Saban was tired of Miami, sent feelers out to the BAMA job, and then orchestrated Shula's firing.
Also in the article I do state I understand why Saban took the job, because he enjoys the college game. But again, just because a college job became open and he had interest in it does not mean I am agreeing (or whatever) he orchestrated the whole ordeal. Nor does it mean I am agreeing he was tired of Miami, and had a bruised ego, or whatever. It just means he enjoys CFB more and decided to make a move he felt was best for him. According to Wayne Huzienga, Saban was very torn about the decison. That doesn't sound like a man who just wanted to "quit on his commitment". But I am sure somebody will tell me that was just part of the act.
Now if you referring to my refusal to get into a pissing match with "anonymous" as not taking a side, well sir you are wrong. He can have his opinion. Mine is in the article. He can disagree, fine. I don't expect everybody to agree with me. But I can disagree without pot shots, name calling, or whatever and even thank a person for visiting.
Post a Comment