Tide Poised To Roll On Under Saban
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By DERON SNYDER
Nick Saban’s three national titles at Alabama arguably are more impressive than Paul Bryant’s six. The Bear never had to contend with scholarship limits, early entries to the NFL draft, or a conference in which football and breathing are equal in importance.
Under Saban, the Crimson Tide have become a marvel to behold. He has created a standard of excellence that shows no signs of eroding. The good folks in Tuscaloosa extended his contract in March — making him the game’s highest paid coach at $5.5 million per year though 2019 — and they’ll dole out another raise if NFL teams sniff too closely.
No, he doesn’t have the warmest personality in fulfilling his media obligations. Saban comes across as an insufferable control freak, an automaton programmed to coach as passionately as possible while doing everything else as dryly. That makes him easy to root against, unless you’re a fan of Bama or a team he left in the past.
But something about the way he approaches his job is very appealing at its core. Not on an average, human level, but in terms of pursuing perfection.
