Link: WSJ Article with Mrs. Terry: Bama fans are unappreciative, but we're not leaving
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Seems like I remember reading on here before that there's a reason Saban keeps his assistants off limits from the media. 
Keep in mind the writer added the comment about the empty seats not Terry Saban.
I spent a little time looking at the writer's tweets....https://twitter.com/sharonterlep ...I'm not real good at understanding them, but...
It looks like she was hired in October as
It looks like she was hired in October as
In her tweets, she mentions investigative pieces:
Something else she brought up in tweets:
She was hired to be a muckraker is my best guess.
This is my take too CrimsonProf. Perception is reality and we can only perceive what is around us. She is around a lot of students, administration and a who's who of celebrated personalities. I'm 47 and did not even attend the University. Yet when I found myself overseas many years ago my dad would call me long distance, put the receiver next to the radio and I would listen to Eli Gold for 4 hours in victory or defeat. I found this site over 10 years ago and continue to visit it everyday. And I know for a fact that there are at least 100,000 others who are exactly like me within a 5 mile radius of where I am now sitting.
I hope when she says "we are trying to educate ourselves and change ourselves" she means that they are going to look beyond the celebrity bubble they are living in and discover a very passionate, educated and diverse group of rabid fans brought together by love of a university that not all of us attended yet support as much now as anytime in history.
But it could be she did that to bring some context to Mrs. Saban's comments. Let's be honest, her comments were very broad and vague. So going by the flow of the paragraph right after Mrs. Saban made her vague comments the writer attempts to bring some context to them by giving examples of what Mrs. Saban is talking about.
After mulling it over overnight, the attendance is the only possible target, and, even there, it's mostly the students. She's probably also talking about other, older fans leaving with a substantial part of the 4th quarter remaining. Someone above mentioned 10-20K on the waiting list. I think it's more like 30K. The attendance problem could be solved by a couple of simple moves by the AD. With the amount of adulation they receive, off-field and on, there is no other possible meaning. It's been touched on several times above, but it's important to remember that this "journalist" was a student at MSU when he left. I think the hurt comes through in the slant she gave the article. It happens that, at that time, I was playing golf weekly with an MSU grad, actually my nephew's FIL. He was crushed. He felt that the only chance they would ever have to reach parity with UM was gone. It was very much a "poor us" attitude. This girl was probably not the best choice for the author of this article...
It is my strong belief that this "crossroads" that Mrs. Terry speaks of, that she believes, "they are there about now", will be the source of what causes CNS to retire if we 3 peat. There is a special completeness in sports of a 3peat and what has always driven CNS mad is the idea that seems to be in his psyche the belief of our fans that all we have to do is just show up and we'll kick everyone's butt. That there is a sense of entitlement at Bama. ie. all the bellyaching after games like Va Tech.....Miss St. (the sky is falling). I think this is the "special pressure". Personally, I believe CNS retires if we win the NC. Kirby will be the new head coach.
To sum it up,
Yes we probably have become somewhat spoiled by success, but
NO, there is no lack of appreciation
All real fans totally realize that without CNS, we would be nowhere near where we are today. Bama and CNS are a perfect match.
Yes we probably have become somewhat spoiled by success, but
NO, there is no lack of appreciation
All real fans totally realize that without CNS, we would be nowhere near where we are today. Bama and CNS are a perfect match.
This is an article build around one line, which is really not that negative, that she said in probably a two hour interview. Look at what a tizzy it got everyone into.
She could not have been more clear that she was staying. I'm not sure what more you want her and the Sabans' to say.
She could not have been more clear that she was staying. I'm not sure what more you want her and the Sabans' to say.
A sure-fire easy way to show appreciation is to stay until the end, no matter what. I know we've based this out before, but you and I agree 100% here - I stay until the end no matter what.
This need to be reiterated...again. It stands out in the article that she is really taking a swipe at the Sabans on how they left MSU. Still a lot of butt-hurt on her part.
I think, speaking for myself - but probably a lot of others - the main emotion I have is dread that he will leave or retire and it will all end. I'd hope that Kirby or another coach would maintain it, but I don't really believe it.
I think that we senior fans, particularly those like I, who started school under the train wreck which was Whitworth, are a special category. We are not under-appreciators. We know all too well just how ephemeral it can be. During the Shula years, I had conversation with the late Billy Neighbors and remarked that we'd never live long enough to see Bama football come back. I was so glad he lived long enough to see it happen...
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! Perfectly said!! Don't forget how critical the fans were at the beginning of the year when we only beach Virginia Tech by 25 points
and how bad our offensive line sucked. :rolleye2: If you people can't see how absolutely CORRECT Ms. Terry is on how spoiled we are as Bama fans, then I just don't know what to say. *SMH* Wait, I do know what to say, but it would get me permanently banned from TideFans and I do NOT want that!
I don't think she LITERALLY meant that we are unappreciative as a fan base and I'm not offended about what she said. I'm a realist and I think she was spot on!! Those of us who have taken this personally need to step back and reevaluate why you are on this earth. Do you take as much offense when you are criticized about your parenting skills or your job skills? Probably not and that is sad.
Man, so much pessimism and angst in this thread. This feels like one of those "OMG CNS to Texas??" topics or "There's a job opening at X school it was nice having Kirby while he lasted but now I am sad" threads.
Both Terry and Nick Saban have always been very positive in their comments about Alabama and Alabama fans. Do you think it's likely that they've suddenly changed their minds? Or do you think it's more likely that Terry Saban made a few comments that were quoted out of context?
Out-of-context quotes happen ALL THE TIME. Terry Saban may have spent 10 minutes on the phone with this journalist giving all the pat answers about "yes, we're happy here, we're staying here" but, when pressed about fan attendance or something, acknowledged something about "unappreciative" in one sentence and that's what the journalist seized on.
Both Terry and Nick Saban have always been very positive in their comments about Alabama and Alabama fans. Do you think it's likely that they've suddenly changed their minds? Or do you think it's more likely that Terry Saban made a few comments that were quoted out of context?
Out-of-context quotes happen ALL THE TIME. Terry Saban may have spent 10 minutes on the phone with this journalist giving all the pat answers about "yes, we're happy here, we're staying here" but, when pressed about fan attendance or something, acknowledged something about "unappreciative" in one sentence and that's what the journalist seized on.
I've intentionally refrained from commenting on this for about 12 hours or so, but even after that time I can't reach any other reasonable conclusion other than to say that, even when cast it in the absolute best light, these comments were very poorly stated and were provided with terrible timing.
And to an extent, I actually agree with Terry Saban as to the factual basis of her comments, because there is a lot of unrealistic expectations and entitlement out there now, and that's going to be the case until this whole dynasty run comes crashing to a halt (though I do think she's way off base with the whole "unappreciated" bit). Then again, what could you reasonably expect? There is no way that you are ever going to win as much as we have in such a short period of time and not have that be the case, and the same would hold true regardless of where it occurred. That's not exactly a phenomena unique to Tuscaloosa.
Two more points that I will add and then I'll shut up:
(1) Thought this was a really strange article for the Sabans to even participate in -- and rest assured Nick participated, working together with Terry to deliver a message, even if he didn't say anything on his own -- because this honestly cast them in a very bad light. This wasn't just some fluff piece for the Sabans, it was pretty brutal of their history... using everything to effectively hold schools hostage to extract all of the resources possible for the program, leaving MSU because he felt he wasn't timely paid a bonus, leaving Miami because he didn't have enough control, initially lying to MSU admins about his negotiations with LSU, learning the card game just to fit in with the families of black recruits, etc. Again, this isn't a fluff piece, and if it weren't for Terry's participation most would probably even be calling it a hit piece. Hard for me to even understand why you would participate in something like that. And frankly, it makes it very easy to cast doubt on the whole "We're not going anywhere" bit when it's stated in context of all of the other prior denials that obviously didn't hold up when push came to shove.
(2) That line about how Terry was actually in Tuscaloosa, before Nick took the 'Bama job, scoping out facilities, housing, schools, and other areas? That certainly gives some feasible credence to all of those Saban-to-Texas and Terry-Househunting-in-Austin rumors, invented and pedantic as though I'm sure they are in actuality. Again, at best very poorly worded and very bad timing.
On the upside, I honestly don't see where Saban would go, under this guise, even if he were to leave. Clearly the NFL isn't an option anymore -- Terry still wouldn't have a role, and Nick would have even less control than he had in Miami -- and while they might not like the appreciation and the expectation in Tuscaloosa, that's not going to be any different in Austin, LA, or otherwise, and it's fool's gold to think as much. Perhaps the real takeaway here is not, "Better please me or I'll leave," but "Better please me or I'll hang it up and head to Lake Burton"?
We'll see, but it will be what it will be. Earle was certainly right, though, a few pages back: For better or for worse this is going to be a very big story, perhaps even bigger than the outcome of the Iron Bowl, and if we slip up on Saturday afternoon in Jordan-Hare, this thing could easily turn into a giant mushroom cloud. Nothing may come of it in fact, but certainly the degree of speculation that will result will multiply exponentially if we don't care of business on the Plains, and we have nothing to do but wait around five weeks on some relatively meaningless bowl. At best it will turn into a huge and unnecessary distraction.
And to an extent, I actually agree with Terry Saban as to the factual basis of her comments, because there is a lot of unrealistic expectations and entitlement out there now, and that's going to be the case until this whole dynasty run comes crashing to a halt (though I do think she's way off base with the whole "unappreciated" bit). Then again, what could you reasonably expect? There is no way that you are ever going to win as much as we have in such a short period of time and not have that be the case, and the same would hold true regardless of where it occurred. That's not exactly a phenomena unique to Tuscaloosa.
Two more points that I will add and then I'll shut up:
(1) Thought this was a really strange article for the Sabans to even participate in -- and rest assured Nick participated, working together with Terry to deliver a message, even if he didn't say anything on his own -- because this honestly cast them in a very bad light. This wasn't just some fluff piece for the Sabans, it was pretty brutal of their history... using everything to effectively hold schools hostage to extract all of the resources possible for the program, leaving MSU because he felt he wasn't timely paid a bonus, leaving Miami because he didn't have enough control, initially lying to MSU admins about his negotiations with LSU, learning the card game just to fit in with the families of black recruits, etc. Again, this isn't a fluff piece, and if it weren't for Terry's participation most would probably even be calling it a hit piece. Hard for me to even understand why you would participate in something like that. And frankly, it makes it very easy to cast doubt on the whole "We're not going anywhere" bit when it's stated in context of all of the other prior denials that obviously didn't hold up when push came to shove.
(2) That line about how Terry was actually in Tuscaloosa, before Nick took the 'Bama job, scoping out facilities, housing, schools, and other areas? That certainly gives some feasible credence to all of those Saban-to-Texas and Terry-Househunting-in-Austin rumors, invented and pedantic as though I'm sure they are in actuality. Again, at best very poorly worded and very bad timing.
On the upside, I honestly don't see where Saban would go, under this guise, even if he were to leave. Clearly the NFL isn't an option anymore -- Terry still wouldn't have a role, and Nick would have even less control than he had in Miami -- and while they might not like the appreciation and the expectation in Tuscaloosa, that's not going to be any different in Austin, LA, or otherwise, and it's fool's gold to think as much. Perhaps the real takeaway here is not, "Better please me or I'll leave," but "Better please me or I'll hang it up and head to Lake Burton"?
We'll see, but it will be what it will be. Earle was certainly right, though, a few pages back: For better or for worse this is going to be a very big story, perhaps even bigger than the outcome of the Iron Bowl, and if we slip up on Saturday afternoon in Jordan-Hare, this thing could easily turn into a giant mushroom cloud. Nothing may come of it in fact, but certainly the degree of speculation that will result will multiply exponentially if we don't care of business on the Plains, and we have nothing to do but wait around five weeks on some relatively meaningless bowl. At best it will turn into a huge and unnecessary distraction.
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Been a fast moving thread. Haven't had time to read all of it.
I see a lot of positive here;
She noted that this is the longest they've stayed anywhere—by two years—and that they feel like members of the community. Their children, Kristen and Nicholas, both graduated from Alabama. "We feel more like it's home, like we are a part of the community and pulling up stakes again would be difficult.""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."
Last sentence is a very welcome statement to me. Glad you are staying Ms Terry. We love you and appreciate you and your husband for what you have brought to our University.
I see a lot of positive here;
She noted that this is the longest they've stayed anywhere—by two years—and that they feel like members of the community. Their children, Kristen and Nicholas, both graduated from Alabama. "We feel more like it's home, like we are a part of the community and pulling up stakes again would be difficult.""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."
Last sentence is a very welcome statement to me. Glad you are staying Ms Terry. We love you and appreciate you and your husband for what you have brought to our University.
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