Saban on expectations

[rizolltizide]

As more time goes by I realize more and more that Alabama and Coach Saban are the perfect match for each other. Simply perfect. And you'll never hear the words from his mouth, unless perhaps it is after he is long gone. But you can read his comments between the lines and know that he understands how well the two go together.

We're very fortunate to have retained his services.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The "process oriented not result oriented" line is complete bull. The process only matters IF it gets the desired result, which is the main goal. No one cares about the process if Bama losses (except that the process needs to be changed).

What you're missing is CNS is teaching this train of thought for the ones that actually play the game. The ones that have to get up at 5 am and lift weights and go to five hour workouts plus class. THE PLAYERS!!! And as a former athlete I completely understand where he's coming from. The things you do on the practice field and during the game better consume your mind more than the kind of results you want. Because what you DO during practice and games and HOW you do them DETERMINES the results. Just the sheer act of having "Winning" as your goal means absolutely NOTHING. It does nothing. There are things that have to be tangibly done to reach the end result. And until the end result is actually reached the "in betweens" are the most important. Or in other words "the process". That's what Saban is saying and he's absolutely right.

 

[BigOaf]

The "process oriented not result oriented" line is complete bull. The process only matters IF it gets the desired result, which is the main goal. No one cares about the process if Bama losses (except that the process needs to be changed).

Not addressing you specifically, but rather your statement - the fact that so many think the ends justifies the means is a big problem today, in sports and just about everything else.

I want Bama to win every game, and to mudhole UT and AU every single year, but more than that I want to see our team give a maximum effort on the field, in practice, in the classroom, and when they leave the Capstone to pursue whatever their dreams may be.

CNS can keep preaching it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[TheCrimsonLiver]

I want Bama to win every game, and to mudhole UT and AU every single year, but more than that I want to see our team give a maximum effort on the field, in practice, in the classroom, and when they leave the Capstone to pursue whatever their dreams may be.

CNS can keep preaching it as far as I'm concerned.

This is what makes character. This is what makes good people into great people and good players into legends. Coach Bryant knew a little about this.

 

[bmcklv]

The "process oriented not result oriented" line is complete bull. The process only matters IF it gets the desired result, which is the main goal. No one cares about the process if Bama losses (except that the process needs to be changed).

It's not bull if you want to win consistently. You can't put the cart before the horse or you achieve nothing.

Right on. +1

Sometimes I think people are scared to say ,"Just WIN!" Try to do it in a sustainable and correct fashion, but please ,"Just WIN!"

The right way is to follow a process, the wrong way gets you on probation. Part of the process was to keep the idiot boosters out of the coach's business, and that has been accomplished. The other part is to build up quality depth and instill a winning attitude in the players/coaches; and this part of the process is well under way.

 

[crimson_blood]

The "process oriented not result oriented" line is complete bull. The process only matters IF it gets the desired result, which is the main goal. No one cares about the process if Bama losses (except that the process needs to be changed).

Wow. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying...but this is exactly why Saban has to preach on and on about a "cultural problem" with some fans at Alabama. How can you expect to win chamionships without focusing on what it takes to get there? OF COURSE the process matters!!

 

[bamanut_aj]

I hope people heed these words this year. I don't think you just "replace" what we lost on the Oline, a 3 year starting QB and Glen Coffee.

O-line - I think we all know what it looked like when we had to shuffle it around.

QB - GMac should be a good one, but he's not a 3 year starter. Not a huge deal to me, but it still is what it is. Should he go down, it ain't gonna be pretty.

RB - Ingram hit a wall last year around what, game 8 or 9? Can't remember if he got injured. Grant is a situational back at best. Upchurch can't shake the 'hurt' tag. TR is a true Frosh and may well hit a wall, too....wouldn't be the first time a Freshman did that.

WR - no one seems to care to step up and take some heat off Julio.

Summer workouts and Fall practice can obviously cure some of these issues, but these are the items I see us struggling with going in. IMO, it's gonna tough to overcome these and win a SEC Championship....much less a MNC.

 

[theBIGyowski]

I hope people heed these words this year. I don't think you just "replace" what we lost on the Oline, a 3 year starting QB and Glen Coffee.

O-line - I think we all know what it looked like when we had to shuffle it around.

QB - GMac should be a good one, but he's not a 3 year starter. Not a huge deal to me, but it still is what it is. Should he go down, it ain't gonna be pretty.

RB - Ingram hit a wall last year around what, game 8 or 9? Can't remember if he got injured. Grant is a situational back at best. Upchurch can't shake the 'hurt' tag. TR is a true Frosh and may well hit a wall, too....wouldn't be the first time a Freshman did that.

WR - no one seems to care to step up and take some heat off Julio.

Summer workouts and Fall practice can obviously cure some of these issues, but these are the items I see us struggling with going in. IMO, it's gonna tough to overcome these and win a SEC Championship....much less a MNC.

If I am not mistaken...Ingram scored 2 TDs against Auburn...the last game of the regular season.

And we have several receivers who are capable of making huge plays like Maze, McCoy, and our TEs seemed to play well in the Spring game. Let's not forget Smelley...who made some big plays for us last year and is like an ox with hands.

I think our biggest problem is going to be our O-Line...not because they aren't good...but because they haven't had time to gel. I don't think they will have too much trouble though. Remember that the Sugar Bowl shuffling was not expected at all...and we had guys who weren't 100% ready. It will be a different story this year.

And I feel much better about our backup QBs now than I did in 2004.

 

[bamanut_aj]

And I feel much better about our backup QBs now than I did in 2004.

I'm not sniping, in fact I'm just trying to inject a little humor....but that ain't sayin' much!

 

[bamanut_aj]

If I am not mistaken...Ingram scored 2 TDs against Auburn...the last game of the regular season.

he did. In fact, he had 2 more TD's all season than Coffee did. I'm trying to find the stats, but it seemed like Ingram tailed off some. Seems like Coffee carried more of the load as the season went on vs. the amount of time they split it up early.

 

[bayoutider]

he did. In fact, he had 2 more TD's all season than Coffee did. I'm trying to find the stats, but it seemed like Ingram tailed off some. Seems like Coffee carried more of the load as the season went on vs. the amount of time they split it up early.

Look here

 

[bamanut_aj]

Look here

carries by game:

17, 11, 9, 6, 7, 11, 17, 4, 12, 5, 13, 15, 8, 8

In other words, looks like I dreamed it.

 

[theBIGyowski]

I'm not sniping, in fact I'm just trying to inject a little humor....but that ain't sayin' much!

Haha...true. I hope our coaches can have the other guys ready to go whenever we need them.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Ingram was playing significantly hurt the last several games...

 

[RamJamHam]

I wish people would figure out that all CNS is saying is that if you will do what you are supposed to do every day to get better that day, you don't have to worry about the results because the results will take care of themselves. Which I have found to be 100% true in all areas of life.

 

[p'colabamaman]

What you're missing is CNS is teaching this train of thought for the ones that actually play the game. The ones that have to get up at 5 am and lift weights and go to five hour workouts plus class. THE PLAYERS!!! And as a former athlete I completely understand where he's coming from. The things you do on the practice field and during the game better consume your mind more than the kind of results you want. Because what you DO during practice and games and HOW you do them DETERMINES the results. Just the sheer act of having "Winning" as your goal means absolutely NOTHING. It does nothing. There are things that have to be tangibly done to reach the end result. And until the end result is actually reached the "in betweens" are the most important. Or in other words "the process". That's what Saban is saying and he's absolutely right.

I believe you're right, that he is trying to get the "process" instilled into the players' minds, trying to get them to live it, to breathe it and totally believe in it. If he can do that, the results will take care of itself. And we as fans can only support the coach and the team and believe and trust in the process also, and know that the results we want are just down the road.

 

[derek4tide]

I understand what he's getting at. I just believe that things can break right again for us to have a magical season. Of course, winning 9-10 ballgames and going to the Capital One Bowl doesn't hurt my feelings either.

From your mouth to God's ear. Thanks to my wife (her company gets tickets every year due to sponsorship), we will have tickets again this year.

 

[J.Will]

I believe you're right, that he is trying to get the "process" instilled into the players' minds, trying to get them to live it, to breathe it and totally believe in it. If he can do that, the results will take care of itself. And we as fans can only support the coach and the team and believe and trust in the process also, and know that the results we want are just down the road.

If this is what he's doing, and I don't doubt your statement has merit, then why does he keep addressing the fans expectations. One reason could be because the media keeps asking the same asinine questions. That's what annoys me. I'm sorry. It does. It's a fans right to expect to win every game. I don't care if your East Valdosta State for Blind Wannabe Nuns. If I'm a fan of EVSBWN I expect them to win every game, and when they trail by 21 with a 1:30 left in the fourth I will expect a miracle to happen. That's being a fan, and I'm proud to be a fan. It's fan like me who don't temper their expectations who stay the whole game, or who show up to cheer when everyone else expects a loss.

I could hem and haw about well we need to improve on this and that and well we shouldn't expect too much, and I've done that before. In the end , though, I don't believe any of that crap. I believe my teams will over come all adversity, conquer all obstacles, and find a way to win. As a fan. that's MY part of the process! That's my job. It's my job after we lose 2 games to looks at everyone else's schedule and dream of how we can still make it to the national championship game and hoist some crystal.

I'm a fan, and if the media wants to call me a delusional TIde fan. Fine with me. I like it that way.

 

[bmcklv]

.....why does he keep addressing the fans expectations? One reason could be because the media keeps asking the same asinine questions......

I think you answered your own question. Saban and diplomacy have never belonged in the same sentence until this one, but he only answers the questions asked, and they keep asking them hoping to get something out of him that they can use to call him Satan over; or try to upset Joe Bama fan; just like they did in Miami. It's up to us to make sure they don't get away with it. If Saban calls me and tells me to run ten miles for the team, I'll try my best to accommodate him; but then after 100 yards I'll start walking

PS I personally wish he'd write down the names of all the asinine reporters and ban them from future conferences. Or better yet, just make a video press release with what information he deems relevant for the fans and press to have and mail it out after the game.

 

[TDBama78]

imo part of why coach saban tries to temper fan expectations is because he and his family really like being in t-town. he dosent want to lose his job due to unrealistic expectations not being met. and we all know the perception is that alabama is the worst at expectations. i think its a good sign because if he didnt give a flip about it he'd leave in a heart beat.