Preaching to the choir, but cherish what you have in Saban/culture

[LSUgrad2BamaDad]

I love my school as an alum. The sports teams have been a source of great joy, and frustration, my entire life. I’m also a big fan of Alabama as an institution and I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Saban has done (even though it should have been done in BR )

I‘m expecting most of you will agree that Derek Stingley Jr is one of if not the best defensive player in the country. Yes, he was beaten twice by Devonta last year, but hey, your guy is the best at what he does too. Stingley‘s Dad was on local radio today and was “understanding” of guys opting out (or as some say quitting) as a business decision. Of course, now the concern amongst some Tiger fans is that Stingley won’t play his Jr year in 2021. It may much ado about nothing, or pushing the panic button - but that’s TBD. The fact is the world knows how good this kid is and he will be drafted extremely high whether he plays another down or not.

Some of you will say this is all coach O’s fault - no discipline, dumb as rocks, can’t understand him - but it’s a culture issue that is spreading faster than COVID across the top athletes in CFB. Maybe it’s not an issue, but more so a mindset. Win and everyone is on board giving all they have, but when the games become meaningless and you’ve shown the ability to play at the next level - it’s all about me, me, me. Alabama is the exception, maybe OSU and Clemson too. Credit Saban for creating not just a team first culture, but for having a program that enters each and every year with NC hopes/expectations. That’s what keeps players invested and even having some come back. We knew this was going to be a down year for LSU, but when is the last time that was said about Alabama?

LSU has some promise for 2021. Myles Brennan showed he can put up points. We are playing a ton of inexperienced guys who were highly rated high school players. They are getting better, but we still lack numbers. Our defense has improved, but frankly, they only had one way to go. But, if Stingley were to opt out in 21, the mountain becomes much more difficult to climb.

I’m not wishing it on you, but there will be a day when this board is on fire because someone quit. It may not be soon, and it may not be under Saban’s watch - but it will happen. Until then, enjoy the ride.

Peace.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Nice post and well said. You are spot on about cherishing what we have in Saban and the culture he has built. With luck he'll have us rolling for some time to come and I personally do not take it for granted at all.

 

[OSUTideFan]

We will have to remember the legacies of CNS and Bear Bryant and try to carry on the same culture that strives for perfection in every single play, even when the team is up 500 to nothing. That’s the championship mentality.

 

[Tideflyer]

No way to know for sure of course, but if CNS had spent 13 years at LSU as he has at Alabama, that would have been 2000-2013. I personally think he would have laid waste to the SEC. If he had left LSU in 2013, the rest of the conference might still be trying to recover. Thankfully, we`ll never know.

 

[crimsonaudio]

We've had players quit mid-season before (usually a backup QB that saw the writing on the wall) - and they're all quitters to me.

I'm sure it will happen at Bama eventually, and my feelings will be the same. Quit your team as a 'business decision"? You're a selfish quitter to me.

 

[Tideflyer]

We've had players quit mid-season before (usually a backup QB that saw the writing on the wall) - and they're all quitters to me.

I'm sure it will happen at Bama eventually, and my feelings will be the same. Quit your team as a 'business decision"? You're a selfish quitter to me.

Like just about most everything in life, goes back to how you`re raised.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Like just about most everything in life, goes back to how you`re raised.

Which brings us back to Coach. If Nick came around recruiting my boy then off he'd go. He is much more than a football coach. 18-22 year old kids need positive mentorship. Coach built his program from top to bottom to give these guys an edge at success on and off the field. Character builder he is.

 

[LSUgrad2BamaDad]

We've had players quit mid-season before (usually a backup QB that saw the writing on the wall) - and they're all quitters to me.

We speak the same language, CA. Bama hasn’t yet experienced the premature departure (not counting juniors who declare) of a star, or multiple ones for that matter.

 

[BamaMoon]

I'm old enough to remember Coach Bryant's second run in the 70's. I probably did take it for granted when he passed that we should be able to just keep going into the 80's with the next coach. But it took Perkins and Curry to lead to Coach Stallings and a brief rise to power again and then there were 3 Mikes before CNS. I appreciate what he's done and I'm NOT taking it for granted.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

We've had players quit mid-season before (usually a backup QB that saw the writing on the wall) - and they're all quitters to me.

I'm sure it will happen at Bama eventually, and my feelings will be the same. Quit your team as a 'business decision"? You're a selfish quitter to me.

Most guys who quit are afraid of something.
Afraid to compete for a job. Afraid to get beat.
Afraid they might be injured ect...
Generally no one talks about their fears, but some of them are in the back of their minds.

 

[VirginiaTide57]

As much as I hate to see the "quit," I understand. Life is a business. Your talent is an asset that must be exploited. If I'm 20 and am looking at an NFL contract and playing for a buffoon like O, I quit too. I protect my interests. As someone who has experienced the ups and downs as a businessman for the past 38 years, I don't agree with quitting but understand the mindset. When I go to my grave, having lived through the glory years of Bryant and Saban, and a God awful pandemic and a few wars sprinkled in, I will appreciate the joy that the Crimson Tide, and my family, has brought me. I will always cherish meeting two of the greatest coaches in history. In the meantime, Roll Tide and kick LSU's butt Saturday night.

 

[Tideflyer]

I`m sure there`s plenty of room for disagreement on this, but I have a different feeling about a player that quits during the season, while his team is engaged in trying to accomplish a goal, and depends upon him to play his role, and a player that opts to leave school, after the season, and forego a year to enter the draft. JMO, but the former is truly quitting on his team and is betraying his teammates. The latter is making a " business decision" and allowing his team to adjust.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I`m sure there`s plenty of room for disagreement on this, but I have a different feeling about a player that quits during the season, while his team is engaged in trying to accomplish a goal, and depends upon him to play his role, and a player that opts to leave school, after the season, and forego a year to enter the draft. JMO, but the former is truly quitting on his team and is betraying his teammates. The latter is making a " business decision" and allowing his team to adjust.

I don't think anyone is talking about a player forgoing their senior year, for example, as being a quitter.

Quitting mid-season and calling it 'opting out' instead of what it is (quitting your teammates), is inexcusable to me. I know the athletes couldn't care less what I think, but I also know there's zero chance my offspring would have made (or been allowed to make) the same choice.

And yes, this will likely happen at Bama - some star will 'save his talents' once it's obvious a championship is out of reach for that season and will quit the team. And that's exactly how I'll forever remember them - if I remember them at all - as a quitter.

 

[The Ols]

We speak the same language, CA. Bama hasn’t yet experienced the premature departure (not counting juniors who declare) of a star, or multiple ones for that matter.

Yet? I don't see this happening under CNS...and you mention juniors that leave early as if that doesn't count. We get hammered with that every year...The Who's did this year...but they don't get it like we experience on an annual basis.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

It's almost standard now that if a coach gets a better offer to coach somewhere else, he walks out on the team he recruited.

I don't like the players quitting midseason but I bet more than a few were recruited to play for coaches or assistant coaches that quit on them first. A player is encouraged to sign and be developed and play under the assistant coach that recruited him. Presumably for more than one year.

There's so much money involved these days that players are encouraged to play here or there to prep them for the pros. It just seems to me to be a tad harsh on the players to hold them to a higher standard than we do the men that coach them. Players are expected to stick around for the glory of the university and to build team spirit...and that's how I prefer things, like everybody else. But for some reason some of these gypsy coaches get a pass for following the money.

I do understand the distinction between a player laying down in mid season for personal gain and a coach leaving at the end of a season for another job. But I don't think the comparison is completely off base.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I do understand the distinction between a player laying down in mid season for personal gain and a coach leaving at the end of a season for another job. But I don't think the comparison is completely off base.

I disagree - you're essentially equating quitting mid-season with what the transfer portal is becoming (or has become). Two different things. A coach leaving after the season is over is the same as a player transferring during the off-season, imo.

A coach who quits during the season (like Fran did) deserves the same derision a player does regarding being a quitter.

 

[LSUgrad2BamaDad]

Yet? I don't see this happening under CNS...and you mention juniors that leave early as if that doesn't count. We get hammered with that every year...The Who's did this year...but they don't get it like we experience on an annual basis.

It probably won’t happen under Saban and that’s why I said enjoy what you have.

I realize you have large numbers leaving after their junior year, but at least you have some return (Najee, Devonta,Moses, Leatherwood). I can’t name an LSU player that returned for their 4th year that was projected in the top 5 rounds once draft eligible. We have guys that leave to become undrafted FAs. It’s a culture issue that started with Miles. He told the high profile recruits, the goal is to get you in and out in 3 years. That was his pitch to attract top talent. Former players have spoken about it. Since we don’t compete at the highest level every year, we see not only early departures, but guys are now quitting before playing 3 years. That makes it difficult to compete with the best every year.

 

[TideEngineer08]

It probably won’t happen under Saban and that’s why I said enjoy what you have.

I realize you have large numbers leaving after their junior year, but at least you have some return (Najee, Devonta,Moses, Leatherwood). I can’t name an LSU player that returned for their 4th year that was projected in the top 5 rounds once draft eligible. We have guys that leave to become undrafted FAs. It’s a culture issue that started with Miles. He told the high profile recruits, the goal is to get you in and out in 3 years. That was his pitch to attract top talent. Former players have spoken about it. Since we don’t compete at the highest level every year, we see not only early departures, but guys are now quitting before playing 3 years. That makes it difficult to compete with the best every year.

The pandemic has complicated matters. But it still it does boil down to culture. I am thankful for Coach Saban. In the midst of this chaos, the best way forward (IMO) is to be strong, be brave, and work hard to be the best you can be. All of the honorable cultural benchmarks still exist and should still be striven for, namely dedication to something of a higher purpose than yourself. I think, in the long run, you are better off when you do this even if it presents risk. I believe all of our guys who chose to come back after last season, and also chose to continue despite the pandemic, have bettered themselves and will be rewarded.

Even though Nick Saban seems to be the only one preaching this method and these ways, I do think there are other coaches out there still doing it. Even the younger ones. And I do hope we get someone like that to replace him. It is so often taken for granted, in all walks of life. But these basics still work and indeed work best in any endeavor. Work hard. Be a good teammate. Follow through on your commitments.