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Editorial: Conversation between Saban & a recruit
Editorial: Get thee behind me, Saban
A conversation between Alabama's new coach and the father of a prospective recruit.
January 4, 2007
"Hello, sir. Is this Jimmy Joe McBubba?"
"It is."
"Mr. McBubba, this is Nick Saban. I recently agreed on a contract relative to coaching the football team at the University of Alabama, and I am calling relative to the process of recruiting your son, Jimmy Joe Jr., to play for the football team at the University of Alabama."
"I see."
"Mr. McBubba, we think Junior is one of the finest sophomore tight ends relative to the state of Alabama. We think ... "
FATHER: "Wait a minute, Coach. There's a rumor you told the same thing to the tight end at our rival high school. What do you have to say about that?"
SABAN: "I'm just making a rule to never comment on something like that again because every time you comment on it, it just makes for another story. So I'm not going to comment on it five years from now, and I'm not going to comment on it next week."
FATHER: "But the other guy's coach says his kid is the tight end you really want the most. Tell me the truth, Coach. Have you been in contact with the other kid?"
SABAN: "No, I haven't. Don't care to be. Don't want to be. I've got a job to do here."
FATHER: "But ..."
SABAN: "I'm not interested in any other circumstances or situations anyplace else. This is the challenge I wanted."
FATHER: "Well, Coach, I'm sure Junior is flattered by your interest. But if Junior commits to you, how can he be sure you're going still going to be Alabama's coach by the time he's a senior in six years? I mean, the recruiters from Auburn and Ole Miss and just about every other school in the SEC all are telling Junior the same thing about you:
"As a head coach you were at Toledo only one year, then at Michigan State for only five, then at Louisiana State for only five. You left the Miami Dolphins after only two seasons, with three left on your contract. And in 2004, the year before you left LSU for the Dolphins, you turned down the Chicago Bears before they hired Lovie Smith."
SABAN: "I'm not going to continue to respond to rumors and innuendo, which this obviously is. I'm committed to a group of guys here and a football team and a football staff, and we're working hard to get this season right. It really challenges your professionalism and integrity to even talk about it. People throw it to the wall, see what sticks."
FATHER: "Coach, these aren't rumors or innuendo. They're facts. And besides, you called it rumors or innuendo when reports were first linking you to the Alabama job, and yet they 'stuck.' You have to admit it leaves the impression that ..."
SABAN: "Why would I give you that impression? That's your impression."
FATHER: "But what if you're successful with Alabama, as you probably will be, and then Joe Gibbs retires and the Washington Redskins throw a bunch of money at you, like they did at Steve Spurrier? Would you leave Alabama to return to the NFL?"
SABAN: "I guess I have to say it: I'm not going to be the Alabama coach. Wait — I mean Redskins coach. Little Freudian slip there; kind of reciting by rote. Where was I? Oh, yes — I shouldn't even have to comment on this. I think I've said this over and over again. What they do with their position is their business."
FATHER: "So you can honestly say that in no way will you leave Alabama after a few years?"
SABAN: "I think I just said that. Did I not say that?"
FATHER: "Yes, but ..."
SABAN: "I'm committed to doing my job well here. This is my job. That's what I've done all day, and that's I'll continue to do."
FATHER: "And I've got a job to do, too, Coach, which is to ensure that my son plays for a coach who has even a shred of credibility or character. Sorry."
ABOUT THE QUOTES
Readers may recognize the quotes introduced by Saban's bold-faced name (with an italicized exception) as the coach's actual responses over the past month to reporters' questions about his being linked to the Alabama job.
Saban: Dec. 27
Saban: Nov. 27
Saban: Nov. 27
Saban: Dec. 3
Saban: Jan. 1
Saban: Dec. 21
Saban: Dec. 21
Saban: Jan. 1
The Associated Press, Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald
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Copyright 2007, TCPalm. All Rights Reserved.
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1/6/2007, 4:38 pm
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