Link: WSJ Article with Mrs. Terry: Bama fans are unappreciative, but we're not leaving

[JIB]

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/31514085
here's a video of the author talking about a totally unrelated topic. Makes the misogynistic comment(s) here and other places seem silly.

 

[rgw]

I am not spoiled by success, I wear "fan of a successful team" more uneasily than most people. Perhaps it was the fact that my undergraduate years were mired in Shula and sanction mediocrity where by the end of the 2006 season I wondered if the 2005 Florida win would be the only victory over a relevant team I'd feel in a long time. And that Florida victory was losing it's luster at that point in 2006 because you realized that we caught Meyer early on with a QB-RB tandem ill-suited for his system and a young defense that was mistake prone. In the back of my mind, I always worry that things can go wrong even while most people embrace our overwhelming big-game success under Saban. Weeks like this before playing a #4 team in a big rivalry, it is easier for me to find 100 reasons why we'll lose rather than 100 reason why we'll win. It doesn't hurt that the media usually spends most of their time talking about how to beat Bama because talking about why Alabama will win isn't going to make people watch.

I appreciate what Saban has done because I know that all good things come to an end eventually. I think the radio bravado callers when we're winning coupled with the chicken littles when we lose builds that perception of how Alabama fans handle success. You have to realize that radio call-ins are usually the same type of person who ends up on the local news broadcast: the one idiot who is dumb enough to open their mouth without a thought. I feel there are a lot more fans like me who actually expect a tough game on Saturday than the types who think anything less than 100-0 Bama victory is falling short of expectations. They just aren't the personality types who write small essays on a message board.

 

[PacadermaTideUs]

Just reread the article, and the only quotes where she speaks about Alabama are in the beginning of the article and near the end.

But here in Tuscaloosa, there is one small pocket of dissatisfaction—and it's an important one. It is located inside the home shared by Terry Saban and her husband of 42 years, Nick, the team's head coach.

The first couple of Alabama football may be standing on top of the world, but it isn't necessarily thrilled by the view. "You come to a crossroads and the expectations get so great, people get spoiled by success and there gets to be a lack of appreciation," Terry Saban said in an interview last week. "We're kind of there now."

On its face, this statement is hard to believe. With a salary of $5.4 million, Nick Saban is, afterall, the nation's highest-paid college football coach. But there are some signs of dynastic ennui at Alabama.
...
Now that there's less to prove, she said, "I say to Nick, 'Why are we doing this? It's not to win. You tell your players all the time, it's not about winning it's about the process. This is about shaping the lives of young men.'"
...
"We are trying to educate ourselves, to change ourselves," Terry said. "We can't change expectations or change lack of appreciation. We have to change our mind-set. We have decided: this is where we are going to end our career."

Firstly, she is never quoted as using this language pointedly in respect to the fans. Secondly, it's interesting that the author chose to use the word "ennui". It's defined as "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement".

Could it be that her comments were in response to a question something like the following?

"Terry, your husband has coached four national championship teams, three in the last four years at Alabama. Nick is on the verge of making history in the modern era by winning three championships in three straight years, four over the last five years, and five over the last decade. Alabama has as many championships over the last three years as it has losses. And yet still, one of the biggest criticisms of your husband is that he doesn't ever seem to be satisfied with his accomplishments. Does he appreciate what he's been able to accomplish? How much winning will be enough to make him satisfied?"

In that context, Ms. Terry's comments are completely innocuous. Again, I find it interesting that the author specifically chose to use the word "ennui", which carries with it a sense of personal boredom and lack of appreciation due to feeling a lack of mission and purpose. Her final comments about "Why are we doing this? It's not to win" seem to be very much in line with this context.

 

[Special K]

Yeah, I didn't read "holier than thou" in that article. That is exactly why I believe she was taken out of context. I thought the article was pretty awesome!

I think that is very possible, but this isn't her first rodeo with the press. As I said in my earlier post, I really don't think she intended for it to come off like it did, but perhaps should have chosen her words a bit more carefully especially considering the timing. We've had to endure "Saban to Texas" rumors all season and then we get literally to the week of the biggest game of the season and this has to hit the internet? Really Ms. Terry? This week?

You can become unappreciative and still love someone. My kids and grand kids are living proof of that and no doubt in my mind she still loves us and Bama the town and all that she has become accustomed to knowing the past several years. I know I love my unappreciative kids and grand kids and they love me as well as depend on me.

All I have heard is Mrs. Saban loves it here and coach Saban has said so, so I have no reason to call them a liar or doubt what they say why should I? Some of you are acting just like my kids when I told them they did not appreciate what I have done for them. They of course deny it and become defensive.

She never said she didn't love us!

Maybe she loves us or maybe she is truly offended by a perceived lack of appreciation and would move if they were younger, who knows. Either way, the timing could not be worse and I am really surprised that she doesn't have thicker skin than this. EVERY ultra successful program deals with fan apathy on some level eventually and surely she can understand the self-feeding monster than CNS has created. I love the Sabans, don't get me wrong, but if a few apathetic students caused any serious contemplation of moving on, color me surprised and really disappointed.

 

[bamacon]

I think more folks are puzzled to why this sit down would be done on IB week. This is by Saban's on words the walking talking definition of "CLUTTER".

 

[Chukker Veteran]

If the fan base is upset about that article, step back & imagine how upset Ms Terry must be about it. It was basically a hit article that casts a bad light on the Saban's roaming ways and them in general. I bet Ms Terry wasn't expecting that slant.

If you read the article and feel like getting mad, imagine how mad it must make Ms Terry.

I think more folks are puzzled to why this sit down would be done on IB week. This is by Saban's on words the walking talking definition of "CLUTTER".

Do we know that interview wasn't a while back and the writer was holding it for maximum splash the week of the Iron Bowl?

 

[CrimsonProf]

I suppose what we should all do is gump out in Bama gear head to toe, spend every last dime of our money on tickets, yell like banshees while we maul an overmatched opponent, sit in traffic for two hours, sleep through church on Sunday, wake up late on Monday and do it all over again the next week.

It might not impress Terry Saban, but it ought to satiate some posters around here.

 

[GP for Bama]

I want to go on record that I very much appreciate Nick and Terry Saban. I appreciate the winning, of course, but also the way they represent the University of Alabama. I also really appreciate their involvement in the community through Nick's Kids. To show my appreciation I plan on making a donation to Nick's Kids.

 

[bamacon]

And they could solve that empty seat problem with two words...."Wait List". Just sayin

 

[CincinnatiAlum]

My two cents worth ... what she said has probably been misinterpreted a bit. We do not know the entire conversation!

However, most importantly ... I love Coach Saban and Ms. Terry. I do not want them to leave Tuscaloosa ... ever!!! With that being said, the worst thing that can happen is for us the fan base to turn on her. If she is not happy, I promise you they will not stick around.

Let the article be a good thing .. they are not going anywhere. Take that and nothing else from it!!! We need to have out butts in the seats and stay for 60 mins!!! 'Aight????!!!!

Roll tide! We need no more distractions ... it is Iron Bowl Week and the process continues ...

 

[RTR91]

I think more folks are puzzled to why this sit down would be done on IB week. This is by Saban's on words the walking talking definition of "CLUTTER".

The article says it was last week.

I suppose what we should all do is gump out in Bama gear head to toe, spend every last dime of our money on tickets, yell like banshees while we maul an overmatched opponent, sit in traffic for two hours, sleep through church on Sunday, wake up late on Monday and do it all over again the next week.

It might not impress Terry Saban, but it ought to satiate some posters around here.

Hey, my pal Harvey said it best in 2011 - I'm just too full of Bama!

 

[davefrat]

if it makes anyone feel better, SI is not focusing on the "appreciation" aspect of the story. they're focusing on the "we're not going anywhere" aspect.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/11/25/nick-saban-wife-terry-alabama-texas-rumors/?eref=sihp

 

[alwayshavebeen]

I suppose what we should all do is gump out in Bama gear head to toe, spend every last dime of our money on tickets, yell like banshees while we maul an overmatched opponent, sit in traffic for two hours, sleep through church on Sunday, wake up late on Monday and do it all over again the next week.

Sounds good to me. Roll Tide!

 

[Special K]

And they could solve that empty seat problem with two words...."Wait List". Just sayin

Exactly. The fan base as a whole is very appreciative, so if this is in response to some of the recent empty seats there is a solution if the administration wants to take a stand on it. The more I think about it, the more I think she never dreamed her interview would come off sounding as it did.

 

[rgw]

Just reread the article, and the only quotes where she speaks about Alabama are in the beginning of the article and near the end.



Firstly, she is never quoted as using this language pointedly in respect to the fans. Secondly, it's interesting that the author chose to use the word "ennui". It's defined as "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement".

Could it be that her comments were in response to a question something like the following?

"Terry, your husband has coached four national championship teams, three in the last four years at Alabama. Nick is on the verge of making history in the modern era by winning three championships in three straight years, four over the last five years, and five over the last decade. Alabama has as many championships over the last three years as it has losses. And yet still, one of the biggest criticisms of your husband is that he doesn't ever seem to be satisfied with his accomplishments. Does he appreciate what he's been able to accomplish? How much winning will be enough to make him satisfied?"

In that context, Ms. Terry's comments are completely innocuous. Again, I find it interesting that the author specifically chose to use the word "ennui", which carries with it a sense of personal boredom and lack of appreciation due to feeling a lack of mission and purpose. Her final comments about "Why are we doing this? It's not to win" seem to be very much in line with this context.

I do think that Terri likely gave a statement in a certain context that wouldn't lead to a poetic waxing on the burden of Alabama fan expectations but it is the media and they will take one thing and twist it into a story. I got taken totally out of context in the Tuscaloosa News as a high schooler in a mock government exercise and it made me seem like someone critical of my teacher's qualifications as educators. If media types will fit quotes of a high school senior to make something sound more interesting then they'll do it to an adult, wife of a college coach without a thought.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

Put it in terms that relate to us.




Let's say you overachieve at your job consistently. Then your boss expects you to perform like that every single day, when there are other employees doing mediocre work. You wish that your boss would be more appreciative of all that you do..instead of just always expecting it.






She is merely stating of how it can be stressful to continue to live up to those high expectations. So she says they are just going to have to live with it...because they are staying.

 

[bamacon]

Do we know that interview wasn't a while back and the writer was holding it for maximum splash the week of the Iron Bowl?

Of course but this ain't their first rodeo. If you say those words in an interview you know they will be printed. It will also be dropped for maximum viewership. I doubt the WSJ is going to sit on that jewel long though. Had to be recent.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

if it makes anyone feel better, SI is not focusing on the "appreciation" aspect of the story. they're focusing on the "we're not going anywhere" aspect.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/11/25/nick-saban-wife-terry-alabama-texas-rumors/?eref=sihp

Yeah most of the media is also focusing on that part too.

 

[RTR91]

Put it in terms that relate to us.




Let's say you overachieve at your job consistently. Then your boss expects you to perform like that every single day, when there are other employees doing mediocre work. You wish that your boss would be more appreciative of all that you do..instead of just always expecting it.






She is merely stating of how it can be stressful to continue to live up to those high expectations. So she says they are just going to have to live with it...because they are staying.

Listen to Saban talk, though. He has the highest standard for the team and himself. He expects more than anyone on this board.

Knowing Saban expects 100% on every play, practice, video session and weight lifting, I don't really want to hear about Alabama fans' high expectations.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

And they could solve that empty seat problem with two words...."Wait List". Just sayin

Exactly! The empty seat problem could be solved instantly. The only problem is it would interfere with our present program of maximizing ticket revenue at the expense of everything else...