Oh, come on. If Saban did something like this there would be Bama fans talking about how great it is. To the victors go the spoils.Just another file to the "Never Dabo" folder...
I am a fan of Dabo and really like the walk-on, Bama boy made good story. However, I cannot imagine any player ever having the audacity to do a wet Willie to Coach Bryant. These days are definitely different, not better, but different.So, doesn't mean I like it. But again, I was raised in a much different sports culture. It also goes to show you that Saban has no problem adapting. Do you really think 15 years ago Saban would have been open to a "turnover belt" being paraded around on the sidelines? LOL!
The point I'm trying to make is Dabo isn't doing anything that is out of touch with what's already going on in some form or fashion all over sports. How coaches deal and interact with players changes over time. This is no different.
See I can't even say they are in the same neighborhood as 95 Nebraska. 95 Nebraska does get a lot of credit for the way they destroyed a 12-0 Florida team in the Fiesta Bowl. That looked like Spurrier's best team ever and I do remember a lot of folks, maybe most, expected Florida to win the game. But looking back over the whole season, Nebraska destroyed everyone. They had one close game, off the top of my head maybe it was Oklahoma State, and they destroyed everyone else. Now, it wasn't a great schedule. That was pre-Big 12, so we are talking the old Big 8 days and Oklahoma STUNK back then. They did play a decent Nick Saban coached Michigan State out of conference.Yeah but fans still didn't believe we would've lost that game, and very few gave Clemson the respect that they deserved. Look at the insane score predictions and you will see how much they believed we were unbeatable and the GOAT.
without folks claiming I was singling them out... here is the pick the score
https://www.tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306868&highlight=clemson
Folks clearly believed we were the GOAT.
My opinion throughout:
Losing Lewis: we are in significant trouble
Losing Diggs @Arkansas: we are in deep trouble
Losing Miller vs Oklahoma: Tua will win or lose the title because we aint stopping Trever without 3 of our 4 best defensive players out.
So no I never drank the Kool Aid
FWIW I think 18 Clemson will fall into that category 95 Nebraska does in that they are claimed to be the GOAT because no one expected them to destroy the team everyone was touting as GOAT. Basically remembered for 1 game, but none the less a GOAT but not the GOAT. I think 2001 Miami, 2004 USC, 2015 Alabama, and 2008 Florida rank higher as champs than 95 Nebraska and 18 Clemson.
No doubt, I see it on a routine basis on the youth level. I never would have thought in a millions years I would ever see "walk up music" played for youth league players coming up to the plate, or youth league sports being accessorized to the degree it has been. By accessorized, I mean teams having two game uniforms, multiple practice uniforms, everyone having to have matching bat bags, names stitched into gloves etc.I am a fan of Dabo and really like the walk-on, Bama boy made good story. However, I cannot imagine any player ever having the audacity to do a wet Willie to Coach Bryant. These days are definitely different, not better, but different.
I agree with you about last year's team, but there were quite a few here who were talking about it. I think there was an entire thread that kept comparing how badly we were beating opponents compared to the "greatest" teams ever. It had quite a bit of conversation and support, if I remember correctly.Believe it if you wish, but no one here was talking about best ever, even before the Clemson game. Knowledgeable Alabama fans saw the gaping holes which were only masked by an incredible offense.
The bad thing is that I think it is the parents who think their little darlings should be treated like MLB players. The kids just adapt to what they are given. Kids would probably enjoy it more if they could just play football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring without all of the specialization.No doubt, I see it on a routine basis on the youth level. I never would have thought in a millions years I would ever see "walk up music" played for youth league players coming up to the plate, or youth league sports being accessorized to the degree it has been. By accessorized, I mean teams having two game uniforms, multiple practice uniforms, everyone having to have matching bat bags, names stitched into gloves etc.
LOL! Yep. I've had to, scratch that, MY WIFE has had to "watch my mouth" and keep me from saying stuff about all this tomfoolery to keep from offending everyone else. Currently, my 11 year old plays on a REC team that plays an occasional local tournament. His coach is truly a great guy. Spends a lot of his personal time practicing with the kids etc. However, IMO, he takes it a bit too far in some areas, such as the multiple uniforms and trying to get the kids to look like the pros. He is also a big advocate of private lessons. Which IMO, is a waste of money in most cases. I did get a good zinger in (then I got my butt chewed by my wife) this past week. During the offseason, the coach setup an eight week hitting lesson with a local hitting coach. The cost per child for the total eight weeks was $500. I chose for mine not to participate because again, I think these type things are a waste of money and time most of the time. Coach called me and literally said the following "I really wish you'd let *my son's name* take these lessons. I'm going to hate to see him fall behind the other players when we start playing in the Spring." I thanked him for the concern but respectfully said "We'll pass, I think he'll be fine."The bad thing is that I think it is the parents who think their little darlings should be treated like MLB players. The kids just adapt to what they are given. Kids would probably enjoy it more if they could just play football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring without all of the specialization.
I do find it laughable when I see kids in the spring with their bat bags with two bats and multiple gloves and uniforms. My little league coaches had a big, green Army duffel bag with about three bats for the whole team and the catcher's equipment shoved in it. I literally laughed out loud at a friend of mine when he told me his son had walk up music. The baseball program in this town is pretty impressive, but it just seems comical to me. Just play the dang game.
It's just a guess, but I would be willing to bet that your son's coach received a bit of that $500 for each kid he sent to the other coach. A lot of times it is a friend or relative of the coach. It is comical how quickly some folks throw their money away to help little Johnny or Julie do well athletically. The worst part is that some of those same parents don't worry very much about the academics. Of course, I guess that is what you get when you pay professional athletes what they get. Anyway, I do try to find the humor in things instead of getting frustrated. I'm hoping my heart appreciates it.LOL! Yep. I've had to, scratch that, MY WIFE has had to "watch my mouth" and keep me from saying stuff about all this tomfoolery to keep from offending everyone else. Currently, my 11 year old plays on a REC team that plays an occasional local tournament. His coach is truly a great guy. Spends a lot of his personal time practicing with the kids etc. However, IMO, he takes it a bit too far in some areas, such as the multiple uniforms and trying to get the kids to look like the pros. He is also a big advocate of private lessons. Which IMO, is a waste of money in most cases. I did get a good zinger in (then I got my butt chewed by my wife) this past week. During the offseason, the coach setup an eight week hitting lesson with a local hitting coach. The cost per child for the total eight weeks was $500. I chose for mine not to participate because again, I think these type things are a waste of money and time most of the time. Coach called me and literally said the following "I really wish you'd let *my son's name* take these lessons. I'm going to hate to see him fall behind the other players when we start playing in the Spring." I thanked him for the concern but respectfully said "We'll pass, I think he'll be fine."
Fast forward to this week. We've since played in three tournaments and just played in our first REC game this week. I'll give you one guess who's been the best and most consistent hitter on the team since the season started? Yep, (brag alert) mine. All the ones whose parents dropped the $500 have struggled mightily and our team as a whole has only won 1 game since starting this season. Granted, it's still very, very early and the regular season REC ball hasn't officially begun. But we've played roughly 12 "pre-season" games and so far, I don't see $500 worth of private hitting lessons paying off for anybody.
After the most recent game (this week) we were walking to the vehicle and the coach caught me and my wife and said "Man, *my son's name* is really zeroed in on the ball. I sure wish the rest of the team would start hitting. We really need it." I couldn't resist, and yes, I completely understand this was tool-baggish of me. But I casually said "I'm just glad now I didn't put him in those $500 hitting lessons. That's the best $500 I've never spent." He laughed it off and said "No doubt!". But boy my wife chewed me a new one when we got in the truck, as she should. I should have never said that and I plan on apologizing to him tomorrow at our game.
Oh, I have no doubt he (the coach) got something out of it. The guy doing the class actually played professional baseball (minor league level) and I have no doubt was a superb player and is probably a very good coach. However, when you're dealing with youth league players, the instruction has to be on their level. At that age they are still needing basic fundamental instruction. High level instruction does them no good until the fundamentals are properly learned. It's like installing the pretty wood floors and granite counter tops in a house but you've yet to lay the slab (foundation) of the house. Cart before horse type stuff.It's just a guess, but I would be willing to bet that your son's coach received a bit of that $500 for each kid he sent to the other coach. A lot of times it is a friend or relative of the coach. It is comical how quickly some folks throw their money away to help little Johnny or Julie do well athletically. The worst part is that some of those same parents don't worry very much about the academics. Of course, I guess that is what you get when you pay professional athletes what they get. Anyway, I do try to find the humor in things instead of getting frustrated. I'm hoping my heart appreciates it.
I would not apologize...LOL! Yep. I've had to, scratch that, MY WIFE has had to "watch my mouth" and keep me from saying stuff about all this tomfoolery to keep from offending everyone else. Currently, my 11 year old plays on a REC team that plays an occasional local tournament. His coach is truly a great guy. Spends a lot of his personal time practicing with the kids etc. However, IMO, he takes it a bit too far in some areas, such as the multiple uniforms and trying to get the kids to look like the pros. He is also a big advocate of private lessons. Which IMO, is a waste of money in most cases. I did get a good zinger in (then I got my butt chewed by my wife) this past week. During the offseason, the coach setup an eight week hitting lesson with a local hitting coach. The cost per child for the total eight weeks was $500. I chose for mine not to participate because again, I think these type things are a waste of money and time most of the time. Coach called me and literally said the following "I really wish you'd let *my son's name* take these lessons. I'm going to hate to see him fall behind the other players when we start playing in the Spring." I thanked him for the concern but respectfully said "We'll pass, I think he'll be fine."
Fast forward to this week. We've since played in three tournaments and just played in our first REC game this week. I'll give you one guess who's been the best and most consistent hitter on the team since the season started? Yep, (brag alert) mine. All the ones whose parents dropped the $500 have struggled mightily and our team as a whole has only won 1 game since starting this season. Granted, it's still very, very early and the regular season REC ball hasn't officially begun. But we've played roughly 12 "pre-season" games and so far, I don't see $500 worth of private hitting lessons paying off for anybody.
After the most recent game (this week) we were walking to the vehicle and the coach caught me and my wife and said "Man, *my son's name* is really zeroed in on the ball. I sure wish the rest of the team would start hitting. We really need it." I couldn't resist, and yes, I completely understand this was tool-baggish of me. But I casually said "I'm just glad now I didn't put him in those $500 hitting lessons. That's the best $500 I've never spent." He laughed it off and said "No doubt!". But boy my wife chewed me a new one when we got in the truck, as she should. I should have never said that and I plan on apologizing to him tomorrow at our game.
I like sleeping inside the house I help pay for...I would not apologize...
LOL, I understand completely. But man, some stuff just needs to be called out.I like sleeping inside the house I help pay for...