There are some people out there who don’t like Nick Saban.
Shocking, I know.
But there are. Most of which dislike him for one simple reason: all he does is win.
What he has done to the Alabama football program since 2007 is unlike anything ever before. Not only did he restore a football program, he has helped it become the program to beat, each and every season.
13 years since his arrival, Saban has created a dynasty in Tuscaloosa that programs all over the country wish they had.
But there’s not many people who dislike Saban for who he is.
Nick Saban is about as humble and giving a coach can be.
Nick and Terry Saban created Nick’s Kids Foundation which has distributed over $9 million to hundreds of deserving organizations and causes.
He most recently donated over $250,000 dollars to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Besides being a coach who gives to charities, he’s also a coach who helps his players not only grow as athletes, but as men.
Simply put, Nick Saban is a leader.
When he speaks, everyone listens.
Last week at a press conference, Saban had this to say:
“I think that it’s important — at least I look at it as if it’s important that we have something or someone, some organizational body who can bring everybody together,” he said. “And I don’t know if that’s a commissioner, if it’s some council, I don’t know if it’s a committee someplace. I really don’t know the best way to do that, but I do think that it would benefit college football if the five major conferences could always sort of come together on what’s best for college football.”
In my opinion, Nick Saban is that someone.
Nick shared earlier this week as well that it’s about the players:
“Everybody acts like we want to play for the money. We want to play for the players. I want to play for the players.”
When conferences like the Big 10 and Pac 12 backed out, Saban kept fighting.
In an article with ESPN’s Chris Low, Saban made his case known:
“I want to play, but I want to play for the players’ sake, the value they can create for themselves. I know I’ll be criticized no matter what I say, that I don’t care about player safety. Look, players are a lot safer with us than they are running around at home. We have around a 2% positive ratio on our team since the Fourth of July. It’s a lot higher than that in society. We act like these guys can’t get this unless they play football. They can get it anywhere, whether they’re in a bar or just hanging out.
We also test anybody that has symptoms and have an open testing site where they can go and get tested as many times as they want or anytime they feel like they need to. But our guys aren’t going to catch [the virus] on the football field. They’re going to catch it on campus. The argument then should probably be, ‘We shouldn’t be having school.’ That’s the argument. Why is it, ‘We shouldn’t be playing football?’ Why has that become the argument?”
The players want to play, and Nick Saban is doing whatever he can to make that happen.
And while Saban may be calling for someone, or a committee, to bring everyone together, he needs to look in the mirror and realize HE is that someone.
If there’s a coach out there who has the credibility, leadership, and influence to impact and influence decisions regarding the upcoming season, it’s Nick Saban.
Even if Saban helped start a committee with Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, and others, it could save the season.
Alabama has clearly demonstrated a successful job at keeping the players safe, and Saban could share those tips and strategies with other coaches.
Coaches who are also helping their players to have a chance to play this fall.
Because at the end of the day, it’s more than just a game for these players.
For the seniors like DeVonta Smith, Dylan Moses, and Najee Harris, it’s one last chance to prove they belong in the NFL.
This season could cost them millions.
Think about it.
If there’s no season this fall, NFL teams will have to go off what they saw last season, and for players like Moses, this year was a comeback season. A season to showcase his healthy skillset. A chance to work his way up the mock drafts.
Nick Saban knows this.
It’s one reason he isn’t giving up, and is using his voice and platform to fight for a season. Other coaches should follow suit.
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