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

[fundytide]

The third from last paragraph in that WSJ article is the one that resonates most with me. What is the essence of the role of a college coach? Take away the huge stadiums and TV cameras (and media interviews)- and you get closer to the heart of what a coach's role really is. For many college sports that are not in the limelight the wins and losses are not nearly as important as the 'process' of teaching young people and preparing them for life's challenges. If you do things the right way, the wins will come as a byproduct and you can live with the losses because you gave it your best in preparation and competition.

From what I have seen and read about Coach Saban, his father's influence on his life and the community involvement of Ms. Terry, they are not in it for the wins and the losses. However, they are so good at what they do, the wins pile up and the losses become so rare that those losses get too much negative attention.

I recall reading a quote from Coach Bryant in which he said, "I don't coach football, I coach people". To me, that kind of sums up the essence of the role of a college coach. And there is a segment in the 'Gamechanger' documentary in which Coach Saban talks about bringing in Merton Hanks from the NFLPA to talk to the players about what they are going to do with their lives after football and why getting an education is so important. It's a great piece.

This thread is 15 pages long and while there's been lots of discussion about wins and losses, I don't recall reading a single comment yet about a much improved graduation rate or about the role that 'the process' has had in turning lives around.

Yes, I'm sure being this far away from Tuscaloosa makes me very naieve about the program and expectations, etc. But I still try to remind myself from time to time that the real success of what the Sabans have achieved at Alabama is not the winning but the 'coaching up' and the winning is just a very pleasant by product.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

I'm guessing you've not read my thoughts and are just shooting from the hip. I've thought it through - in fact, that's why I waited until this AM to post about it.

Yes, she knew it the message would go everywhere, which is precisely why I say - if you're even going to go there, then GO THERE - explain what you want. She doesn't have to give step-by-step instructions, but I grow weary of these sorts of cryptic messages. She knows every word will be examined and yet here we discuss it without even knowing precisely who she was talking to. Was it a message to the fans? To the administration? Was it about attendance? Was it about the overall expectation level? We don't know.

So she does an interview, apparently the week before the biggest game of the season against an arch-rival, and she floats this out there?

Like I said, I've got no time for that.

And in case you're reading my words incorrectly (easy to do on these forums), I'm not upset. I honestly just don't care.

I know where you are coming from, I bet we feel very similar on this.

If the coach's wife misspoke (and I think she did) I'm just inclined to give her a mulligan and move on. I seem to be more prone to say "whatever" (and roll my eyes) when the coach's wife says something awkward, rather than respond to the unfortunate remarks with what I consider even more stuff that could have been left unsaid.

You're one of my favorite longtime posters, I really hope I'm not getting cross-ways with you. I'm just trying to offer my point of view without being too abrasive.

I bet we can all agree we want them to stay a long time. I hope they explain specifically what they want fans to do to keep them happy coaching here. In the meantime, if the coach's wife does or says something that doesn't suit me I'll take it and be glad they are here.

 

[92tide]

"If" she said this as quoted, then I understand where she is coming from. When you deal with the public it is all about managing expectations. That is the way people are...I remember when CPB was being attacked...if he lost a game the world was coming to an end. CNS has created a "monster" that will never be duplicated...and yes, some do not "get it." Not all...just some.

hell, we have hair on fire meltdowns on the game thread when we have to punt or the opponent gains a first down.

 

[BamaFlum]

The third from last paragraph in that WSJ article is the one that resonates most with me. What is the essence of the role of a college coach? Take away the huge stadiums and TV cameras (and media interviews)- and you get closer to the heart of what a coach's role really is. For many college sports that are not in the limelight the wins and losses are not nearly as important as the 'process' of teaching young people and preparing them for life's challenges. If you do things the right way, the wins will come as a byproduct and you can live with the losses because you gave it your best in preparation and competition.

From what I have seen and read about Coach Saban, his father's influence on his life and the community involvement of Ms. Terry, they are not in it for the wins and the losses. However, they are so good at what they do, the wins pile up and the losses become so rare that those losses get too much negative attention.

I recall reading a quote from Coach Bryant in which he said, "I don't coach football, I coach people". To me, that kind of sums up the essence of the role of a college coach. And there is a segment in the 'Gamechanger' documentary in which Coach Saban talks about bringing in Merton Hanks from the NFLPA to talk to the players about what they are going to do with their lives after football and why getting an education is so important. It's a great piece.

This thread is 15 pages long and while there's been lots of discussion about wins and losses, I don't recall reading a single comment yet about a much improved graduation rate or about the role that 'the process' has had in turning lives around.

Yes, I'm sure being this far away from Tuscaloosa makes me very naieve about the program and expectations, etc. But I still try to remind myself from time to time that the real success of what the Sabans have achieved at Alabama is not the winning but the 'coaching up' and the winning is just a very pleasant by product.

Excellent observation. Our players are getting what is seen by the public. But there are more important things that aren't as apparent: character, integrity, discipline, etc.

I've been out of state since '94 so I don't get a lot of in state clutter. I try to ignore stuff like this until it impacts the school, team, etc. So far, one article from an author from Michigan. Until it happens again from something closer home or we start seeing it alluded to more often, I'm going to move on.


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[bamachile]

hell, we have hair on fire meltdowns on the game thread when we have to punt or the opponent gains a first down.

I'm O.K. with the opponent getting a first down, provided it's the 4th quarter and we're up by at least 35. Against a top five team. With the third string in. During one of the first three games of the season. When I'm not watching. If we get a turnover on the next play. :wink:

 

[crimsonaudio]

If the coach's wife misspoke (and I think she did) I'm just inclined to give her a mulligan and move on. I seem to be more prone to say "whatever" (and roll my eyes) when the coach's wife says something awkward, rather than respond to the unfortunate remarks with what I consider even more stuff that could have been left unsaid.

Well, if Miss Terry reads this (LOL, as if she hangs on TF) then perhaps she will see that it would be better to either leave it unsaid or say specifically what she means. She's not new at this.

I'm just trying to offer my point of view without being too abrasive.

No worries, I feel zero abrasion. :biggrin:

I bet we can all agree we want them to stay a long time. I hope they explain specifically what they want fans to do to keep them happy coaching here. In the meantime, if the coach's wife does or says something that doesn't suit me I'll take it and be glad they are here.

Sure, I love what they have done for the University I attended and love - the improvements stretch far beyond the W's and trophies. I hope they stay a long time and continue to contribute - it's a healthy, symbiotic relationship. But I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer - a fact I'll readily admit - so this sort of esoteric statement doesn't move me.

 

[TexasBama]

First, I think that she is in a better position to judge the behavior of the fans than the fans themselves. She is trying to point out one of those blind spots and many of you want to argue the point instead of learning and growing.

When she says "unappreciative", she does not mean that you do not appreciate your coaches or players. She means that you have lost touch with the reality of sports - that every team has wins and losses. Alabama's success is unprecedented in football at this level. You see me write about it all the time - what is happening in your program is SPECIAL. It is not the same thing that happened over a 25+ year span under Coach Bryant. It is so much more. But Alabama fans just think that this is the way that it is supposed to be at Alabama. That thought process is totally unappreciative of your current situation. It lacks perspective and glosses over the greatness.

What is happening right now at Alabama has never happened before, and will probably never happen again. Not at Alabama - not anywhere. Oh, you might win championships with another head coach, but not like this. And remember that you might not win another championship - ever. It is your inability to think that way that makes you unappreciative.

Being in a position to win 3 straight titles is not unprecedented. We've been there twice in my lifetime.
Actually winning 3 straight would be unprecedented.

 

[Tidetwin]

I'm guessing you've not read my thoughts and are just shooting from the hip. I've thought it through - in fact, that's why I waited until this AM to post about it.

Yes, she knew it the message would go everywhere, which is precisely why I say - if you're even going to go there, then GO THERE - explain what you want. She doesn't have to give step-by-step instructions, but I grow weary of these sorts of cryptic messages. She knows every word will be examined and yet here we discuss it without even knowing precisely who she was talking to. Was it a message to the fans? To the administration? Was it about attendance? Was it about the overall expectation level? We don't know.

So she does an interview, apparently the week before the biggest game of the season against an arch-rival, and she floats this out there?

Like I said, I've got no time for that.

And in case you're reading my words incorrectly (easy to do on these forums), I'm not upset. I honestly just don't care.

I spoke with my brother, a journalist, this morning and I voiced similar thoughts. There was plenty of room and opportunity for expanding and clarifying her feelings. Maybe she did and it ended up on the editor's floor or she purposely chose to leave it ambiguous for her own undisclosed reasons.

 

[Tidetwin]

The third from last paragraph in that WSJ article is the one that resonates most with me. What is the essence of the role of a college coach? Take away the huge stadiums and TV cameras (and media interviews)- and you get closer to the heart of what a coach's role really is. For many college sports that are not in the limelight the wins and losses are not nearly as important as the 'process' of teaching young people and preparing them for life's challenges. If you do things the right way, the wins will come as a byproduct and you can live with the losses because you gave it your best in preparation and competition.

From what I have seen and read about Coach Saban, his father's influence on his life and the community involvement of Ms. Terry, they are not in it for the wins and the losses. However, they are so good at what they do, the wins pile up and the losses become so rare that those losses get too much negative attention.

I recall reading a quote from Coach Bryant in which he said, "I don't coach football, I coach people". To me, that kind of sums up the essence of the role of a college coach. And there is a segment in the 'Gamechanger' documentary in which Coach Saban talks about bringing in Merton Hanks from the NFLPA to talk to the players about what they are going to do with their lives after football and why getting an education is so important. It's a great piece.

This thread is 15 pages long and while there's been lots of discussion about wins and losses, I don't recall reading a single comment yet about a much improved graduation rate or about the role that 'the process' has had in turning lives around.

Yes, I'm sure being this far away from Tuscaloosa makes me very naieve about the program and expectations, etc. But I still try to remind myself from time to time that the real success of what the Sabans have achieved at Alabama is not the winning but the 'coaching up' and the winning is just a very pleasant by product.

I really like this post.

 

[bamaee04]

I am holding off on making a rush to judgment on this one, but I am inclined to believe this was taken out of context. We have had off the field distractions with this kind of mess, and I don't think the timing of the article release is coincidental at all. We are approaching debatably the biggest IB in history and as others have mentioned this will be a discussion topic before, probably during, and certainly after the game regardless of the outcome.

Based on earlier comments, I would think this was probably related to fans leaving early, lack of a full house, etc. We certainly have our share of fair weather fans and bandwagon jumpers that hang on every season, game, or even series of plays, but that comes with success and all teams have them! Hopefully this will be cleared up soon, and it isn't as bad as it seems/sounds. RTR!

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Sure, I love what they have done for the University I attended and love - the improvements stretch far beyond the W's and trophies. I hope they stay a long time and continue to contribute - it's a healthy, symbiotic relationship. But I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer - a fact I'll readily admit - so this sort of esoteric statement doesn't move me.

Well, if you are a dull knife then I'm a butter knife. Nothing sharp about me. Now let me go figure out what the heck making an "esoteric" statement means. :eek2: I don't think you mean that in a mean spirited way, I'm just too dumb to be sure.

If Ms Terry wanted to stir the pot, I wish she had mentioned something about Gus to Texas rather than the old "Bama fans are spoiled" theme.

If we are spoiled, who spoiled us?

I think we are each just trying to deal with this unbelievably good run in our own way. It's all good.

 

[2003TIDE]

It's really more than half now. And you're right. Most of them become fans, but not all...

I think I read that 60% of the incoming freshman class is from out of state.

 

[MOAN]

Seriously? If the Sabans are sitting around watching us squirm (which I obviously don't believe, and yes I saw your winky)then they are sick people.

And no I don't feel a sudden sense of urgency to focus. As a fan, during auburn week, running a 1.8 million dollar job in real life, 2 kids, etc, I'm as focused as I'm gonna get.


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I am sure the Saban's don't care what we Bama fans think about them but only about how it might affect the players. Do you think players and recruits read what is being said about them or the team and it not affect them? What about recruits? If they read where we say that they will beat Auburn by 3 td's or more do you think it might affect them in one way or the other? Maybe not, I do not know but I hope not.

What if we lose to Auburn or in the SEC championship game and go to another bowl game besides the BCS championship game? How will we the fan base react to that? Like spoiled brats, with lackluster enthusiasm or with class and appreciation of the ride we have had and where we are at? I have no idea what her motive or the motive of the writer is and was in this article. But if her reason for saying what is quoted as her saying is to wake us up and for us not to take what we have been enjoying for granted then I think they must see a reason for it. Maybe she will clarify her words for us if she feels the need to but as far as I am concerned there is no need.

To me what she said goes hand in hand with what coach Saban has said about attendance and staying for the whole game. Apparently they feel a reason to say what they say as I do not believe they are in a habit of just stirring the fan base for the heck of it. Is it for the players benefit or recruits or both I don't know. But I am sure its not for us fans benefit unless you like whats been going on in Tuscaloosa and want it to continue.
Could we affect how much longer they will stay in Tuscaloosa? Do we really want to find out? If you don't like what they have to say start a campaign to get them out. Rest assured I will not be a party to it!

Personally if they feel the need to say something about us the fans then they must think and feel it is warranted and who am I to question. I have enjoyed immensely what they have done since being in Tuscaloosa win or lose come Saturday and I hope they stay for as long as they feel good about being here. I understand where your focus is and good for you. I think you also should appreciate where the Saban's focus is as I do as well and that focus is on everything Alabama football which is in the hundreds of millions of dollars job as well as no telling how many kids and millions of fans in this real life!

 

[bamacpa]

I'm not panicked over this because we don't know how the writer edited the conversation. The piece did have an overall unfavorable tone towards the Sabans, so perhaps it was written with an eye for casting doubt on them. I'd like to wait until we hear more from her. I will say the community work she has done does NOT indicate a spoiled, ungrateful, unhappy woman.

 

[KrAzY3]

I spoke with my brother, a journalist, this morning and I voiced similar thoughts. There was plenty of room and opportunity for expanding and clarifying her feelings. Maybe she did and it ended up on the editor's floor or she purposely chose to leave it ambiguous for her own undisclosed reasons.

I am not overly fond of any negativity being directed towards Terry for this article. Clearly, she was not the editor, so we can't assume she didn't elaborate on any given point. Secondly, some people question why she would do this at all, and act as though there wasn't a really long thread here about Saban going to Texas. If you want to make something negative out of what she said, you can, but why on earth would an Alabama fan want to do that and ignore all the positives?

Here's the facts as I see them. We know how important a coach's wife can be, and we know darn well that if Terry wanted to leave Tuscaloosa, Nick would. We know she's a good influence, and we've seen plenty of coaches wives that were not (like Rich Rod's, well that worked out, but you get the point). In my lifetime, I haven't seen any husband and wife tandem, in all of college sports, have the kind of impact that Nick and Terry have had. Alabama's entire athletic department is doing fantastic, they have shown tremendous support for the city itself, the football player's academics have been doing great... ironically, about the only thing that hasn't improving drastically is fan attendance/enthusiasm. And, of course any allusion to that gets some people worked up (but not in a good way)...

Look, I watched Chattanooga fans make fun of Alabama fans as they hurried out of the stadium in the third quarter. You're darn right some Alabama fan's are unappreciative. It was Senior Day, and even the Chattanooga fans got that you don't walk out on the team, heck, they stayed. Was getting to the car a few minutes earlier really more important than one last Rammer Jammer with the seniors? Was it really more important than watching AJ take a final lap around the stadium? I can't comprehend that, and I think unappreciative, given what those seniors did is entirely appropriate.

 

[bamamc1]

I thought we had "One Voice" that pretty much let the college football world know what the pulse of the program is. What would CNS do if one of our players have made the same remark? That being said, I think the 10-20,000 people who are on a waiting list for tickets in Tide Pride are a testament of how the fans feel about the program. The millions of dollars raised by Coach Moore for improvements are a testament to what people think about this program. The millions spent each year on Bama gear is a testament and I could go on and on.

Maybe we are spoiled rotten becuase we have been. But I would rather be at a program that expects to win as opposed to one that just "hopes" they can win. Alabama football has been great for a long time. Sure we had some down times, but heck we all hung in there and came out on the other side. Our program is much bigger than one coach, one player, or one fan and it will always be that way. I appreciate CNS and all that he, the staff, and especially the players have accomplished and look forward to more great times. More importantly, ROLL TIDE!

 

[runtheoption22]

Sounds like we need an "appreciation letter" campaign to the athletic complex....

 

[bamaslammer]

I think her views are due to the myopic life they live. They are surrounded by a limited group of people who are all season ticket holders or "sky box" people, or press. They don't get to talk to the every day people who can't get tickets any more because of the popularity of the program. I used to get 4 or 5 tickets a year, last two season I got one. and I always stay to the end and scream my head off.

 

[mittman]

Whew.

Just woke up to this and read the whole thread.

The only thing I will say is that I appreciate what they are doing enough to give her the benefit of the doubt whether she meant it, was misquoted, or did not mean it in the way it was said.

I am just going to continue to be happy they aren't going anywhere. I guess that shows a kind of appreciation in itself.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I read the article again and it seems she's making reference to the students more than anything.

Empty seats have been an issue at Bryant-Denny Stadium, especially among students. Just last week, the school had to set up a promotion to sell tickets to the Chattanooga game.

It seems the "lack of appreciation" she is talking about is directed at the students. Look, the Sabans aren't idiots. There's no way she is talking about the fans who's got kids, works and is trying to support a family. I truly believe she is echoing the thoughts of CNS a few weeks ago when he called out the students.