Link: WSJ Article with Mrs. Terry: Bama fans are unappreciative, but we're not leaving
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I'm not going through 22 pages so this may have been said before but I don't think she was directing that as them not being appreciated but winning the way Bama is now people tend to forget how much it takes to do this conistently year in and year out and how much the coaches and players give to have the kind of success Bama is enjoying. Being one of those old codgers who lived through the CPB days and through the drought after that with exception of CGS, I really appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes those coaches and players to sustain excellence especially these days. That is also too short of a statement to take literally as it doesn't mention what preceeeds it or is said after. No offense to you young ones but some haven't had to work for what you have, it was given to you. I'm also guilty as charged, I've always wanted my kids to have more than I had and as a result they have an entitlement attitude. Well they did for a while, they don't now as I gently explained to them in my most courteous voice (right) about working for what you have.
Y'all remember - the Wall Street Journal also had THIS article calling for Auburn to beat Alabama:
http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/...urnal-column-calls-for-auburn-to-beat-alabama
I am thinking more and more that this was a hit piece, and a piece to stir up some trouble before the Iron Bowl. The timing is not coincidental and the controversy and wringing of hands is exactly what they want. Journalists don't report the news anymore. They try to MAKE the news. Since Terry Saban made it very clear that Alabama is their last stop, they had to tweak another angle to still cause the controversy they want. So take some quotes out of context and "viola".
And there's no way I'd listen to that little she-dog on Finebaum today. That's just a muckraker interviewing a muckraker.
http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/...urnal-column-calls-for-auburn-to-beat-alabama
I am thinking more and more that this was a hit piece, and a piece to stir up some trouble before the Iron Bowl. The timing is not coincidental and the controversy and wringing of hands is exactly what they want. Journalists don't report the news anymore. They try to MAKE the news. Since Terry Saban made it very clear that Alabama is their last stop, they had to tweak another angle to still cause the controversy they want. So take some quotes out of context and "viola".
And there's no way I'd listen to that little she-dog on Finebaum today. That's just a muckraker interviewing a muckraker.
She said Terry made a serious effort to convey they had roots in Tuscaloosa.
Even if Coach Saban decided to retire after this season, we would be okay. For now and over the long haul. And let's be real, retirement is the only thing that will take Coach Saban away from us at this point. As BigEasyTider pointed out right here:
Let's just say he were to head to Lake Burton after this season. At least for the first 2-3 years after he leaves, we would be in the running for the national title. Do we drop off at some point? Sure. But, here is what is important. We would NOT and I repeat NOT drop off to the point that we would be "back to the Dubose/Fran/Price/Shula days" as some rival fan bases like to spout. The fan base of the team that we face in just a few short days still fantasizes about that time. They want us to go back there, but it ain't happening. At worst, we won't have to settle for the likes of Dubose, Fran, Price, etc. Never again will we be "looking down the barrel of a pistol" or whatever that idiot at the NCAA said back in 2001. Never again will be be searching for a coach in late May-early June. And I am thoroughly convinced that we will never again be on the losing end of 6 straight iron bowls. I'm not saying that the barn will never beat us again, but you can bet your last buck that it will never be like it was in the early to mid 2000's. And I'm not saying that we will never have another sub .500 season. But, I can't see it being the likes of 3-8 (2000) or 4-9 (2003). And I can't see it being within the next decade. While I don't want the Sabans to go anywhere for awhile, I am comfortable in the fact that Coach put MORE THAN ENOUGH distance between us and the dark days that preceded him for us never go back there again. Just as he did with LSU.
Let's just say he were to head to Lake Burton after this season. At least for the first 2-3 years after he leaves, we would be in the running for the national title. Do we drop off at some point? Sure. But, here is what is important. We would NOT and I repeat NOT drop off to the point that we would be "back to the Dubose/Fran/Price/Shula days" as some rival fan bases like to spout. The fan base of the team that we face in just a few short days still fantasizes about that time. They want us to go back there, but it ain't happening. At worst, we won't have to settle for the likes of Dubose, Fran, Price, etc. Never again will we be "looking down the barrel of a pistol" or whatever that idiot at the NCAA said back in 2001. Never again will be be searching for a coach in late May-early June. And I am thoroughly convinced that we will never again be on the losing end of 6 straight iron bowls. I'm not saying that the barn will never beat us again, but you can bet your last buck that it will never be like it was in the early to mid 2000's. And I'm not saying that we will never have another sub .500 season. But, I can't see it being the likes of 3-8 (2000) or 4-9 (2003). And I can't see it being within the next decade. While I don't want the Sabans to go anywhere for awhile, I am comfortable in the fact that Coach put MORE THAN ENOUGH distance between us and the dark days that preceded him for us never go back there again. Just as he did with LSU.
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Allow me........a lotta blah-blah-blah with some stammering,stuttering and uhhh's! Oh,and countless "ya know's".
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Is it me or does there something seem a little off on those quotes like lets stir the pot a little more just for giggles.
Finebaum + disgruntled Michigan State grad/reporter = a recipe for disaster. Leave it to PAWL to continue stirring the pot when it isn't necessary. You want to get to the bottom of this story? Call Terry Saban. Don't let this 2-bit reporter continue to put words in her mouth or take out of context what she said.
This makes me despise Finebaum even more than I thought possible.
This makes me despise Finebaum even more than I thought possible.
This whole thread has caused this thought to pop into my feeble brain...How would anyone like to be the act that follows CNS? Talk about one huge act to follow...
Roll Tide, Roll...A'ight!
Roll Tide, Roll...A'ight!
Which is different from every other working stiff in the history of mankind just exactly how? I'm not buying into the angst. If you want to see under appreciated, go watch a man making $12.50 and hour (that's 25k a year, or 0.5% of CNS' salary) try to feed a family of four. When people build statues for you, name children after you, throw parades for you, and pay you more than the average CEO, you're getting more than enough appreciation. If there's ingratitude here, I don't think it's on the part of the fans. Flame away and burn me in effigy if you will, but that's simply the way it is.
I'm not going to degrade myself to the point of becoming a Finebaum caller (I remember the "articles" I used to read of his in the Mobile Press Register...), so I'll just reply here to the notion that Nick and Terry have no place commenting on the fans (a comment that Paul made).
The fans, like it or not are intrinsically tied to the program. Look no further than Albert Means if you really want to believe that the people in positions of authority really can just ignore the fans. You have to manage the fans in some way, in this day and age. For Saban, the fans have generally been positive, but I've seen some of the crazy come out. As has been mentioned, the whole fire Nuss thread, or for instance I even saw an Alabama fan (supposedly) calling for Saban to be fired after the A&M loss. Sure, those people are in a minority, but they are there, and sometimes the fans do need to be addressed.
I've mentioned this before, but this whole issue came to a head during the Arkansas game this year. This was a match-up of two historically top 25 teams, this was a game that most years would have been a major story. Alabama, unfortunately is just so darn good that it was a boring game. The issue was fans leaving in the third quarter, of a "big" game, a game with a lot of recruits, and the danger that this behavior become the norm. If the fans can't be relied on to stay for even three quarters, even for major SEC match-ups, there is a serious problem. Nick addressed the issue, and Terry addressed the issue, and hopefully enough Alabama fans take it to heart to keep this from becoming a major problem down the road.
Well, it won't be any bigger than the shoes of Coach Paul Bryant. But something tells me the administration will approach it differently next time around.
I had to sleep on this before I commented because honestly when I went to be last night I was somewhat hurt by the comments in the article. The above comments and the comments made by BigEasyTider on page 19 line up with where I stand on this. But her comments have a lot of different layers to them not all on the fans or students. If you truly peel back the layers of this onion you could write a book about what is going on in college football altogether. For the record, I am very appreciative of what the Sabans have done for teh university and community and to some degree shaping my general outlook on how I approach my own work and life. They have had a tremendously positive impact on everything they have been involved in.
Generally, I think this article reflects very poorly on the Sabans whether intended or not and it definitely looks like a hit piece. The writer probably set her up, imo. She took the comments she got from Ms Terry and went about getting anonymous interviews from other people at the various schools they have left to basically make it look like there is no scenario or situation in which they can be satisfied. That may be true may not, I dont know. All I know is this issue will be their cross to bear until he retires. Its really unfortunate honestly because they are largely responsible for this reputation. Honestly as with any employer-employee relationship it is in poor form to make your commitment to a particular location or occupation a topic of conversation certainly not public conversation. Such idle comments always come back to bite you. As for timing, it was poor no doubt but I think it could have been much worse if it were the only topic discussed in January through May. I think the IB discussion will mute this issue for a while. The Sabans best bet is not let this bleed over as a topic of discussion after the season.
Every family, every place of employment or association has some level of dysfunction or ingratitude - even the Saban household is not immune to this. We are all just people - most of us just trying to make a living and raise a family.
Best thing they could do is quit talking about being at home in Tuscaloosa and make it home for as long as it is home. Suck it up and go eat a meal at City Cafe or the Waysider on a random Tuesday. Let yourself be seen buying a jug of milk on the way home from work. Small gestures like this will endear them to this community much more than anything they could say. Personally, if I were a close friend of the Sabans I am not sure how I would feel about these comments. This article in some ways seems to undo everything that has been accomplished over the last 3-5 years relative to this issue. Why do they feel they need to keep commenting on this publicly especially to uninterested parties up north?
The rub here is, and they are figuring it out just like we are, that their view of The Process is a 5-7 year process not a 10, 15, or 20 year process because they have never stayed in one place long enough to test it that far. Here is where some education on Bryant's tenure and help from Coach Moore would come in handy for them. Which btw, for some reason I dont think these comments would have been made if he were still around (but we can talk about that later). The way I see The Process while implemented at a 100% effort can produce what it has produced over the last 5 years, that's proven. But at what cost to your attitude mental stamina, etc? Even soldiers can only endure so much war. To me The Process needs to be modified now to achieve sustainable excellence - is that 95% effort, i dont know? To me this is where their re-education needs to start... They got the desired result from the fans, we have been processed. We are just as much upset as they and the players are after a lackluster performance against MSU.
On the attendance issue, the fault is primarily on the AD. There is unbalance. Too many seats allocated to students who dont appreciate the opportunity and too many people on the waiting list dying to get seats. This needs correcting. Secondly, the school needs to quit scheduling FCS opponents whether its Senior Day or not. But something that is also outside their control, is there is some really bad football being played in the conference and nationwide right now. Attendance is down at our games not because we underappreciate our team but because of how poor the other team plays. Secretariat couldnt draw a crowd week after week if all he were racing against were mules... When you have made the other team quit what is left to do but go home? You see where I am going with this?
Beginning next year, there will be a whole new frontier to conquer with the coming playoff and the arrival of the SEC Network. Whether CNS likes it or not, politics is going to become a bigger part of the game and The Process is not ideally suited to win on that front all the time. He needs to add a PR consultant to his staff and let Joe Mechanic change his oil occasionally to avoid needless distractions like these.
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Anyone in sales or marketing knows the ratio that involves how many times a person repeats a negative experience vs a positive one. Same theory applies to fans. Gracious, thankful, appreciative fans will offer quiet thank you's and your-doing-great's......while the unappreciative, ungrateful, delusional types will yell over every little flaw. I'm sure the Sabans hear the negative fans over the positive ones not because there are more of them but just because they are louder and bolder.
On the flip side.....it will never improve. Not until CNS retires and those fans turn their attention to the next coach. If we win out this year then the pressure is to 4 peat. If we don't 4 peat then it will be go for another 4/5. If we fail that then it will be let's start this run again. It is relentless. It never stops. It is the insane fury that drives both the genius and the fanatical.
On the flip side.....it will never improve. Not until CNS retires and those fans turn their attention to the next coach. If we win out this year then the pressure is to 4 peat. If we don't 4 peat then it will be go for another 4/5. If we fail that then it will be let's start this run again. It is relentless. It never stops. It is the insane fury that drives both the genius and the fanatical.
You're right. But, how do you feel that worked out for us? Certainly better than when Bama had to replace Coach Gene Stallings, but sill a lot of turmoil and unhappy people.
What I'm HOPING is that the powers that be at UA have learned valuable lessons from the past 30 years. That's what I wish for anyway...
Does anybody else remember the WSJ'***** piece on Bama from 2010 titled "Alabama's Unhappy Castoffs"
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703384204575509901468451306
Or part two called "Former Players Say Saban Twisted The Truth"
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704243904575630593438793612
I could go on...
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