You can add another person to the list of those who have a beef with Nick Saban’s final regular season coaches’ ballot. While many have griped about the Alabama coach voting Oklahoma State No. 4 on his ballot, that can’t really surprise anyone. Although you are supposed to be completely objective in voting, we know one of the perks of the job is being able to help your team’s position. As it turns out, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is also a bit disappointed in the way Saban voted, since he voted Michigan State 17th and their rival Michigan eighth.
“I don’t think it’s anything bad intended against Michigan State,” Izzo said according to The Grand Rapids Press. “I know he and Mark (Hollis, athletic director) have a decent relationship, and I don’t think Nick has any ill feelings to Michigan State, but it surprises me a little bit.”
Saban used to coach at MSU, so perhaps Izzo believes he should have helped them out. However, the Spartans have three losses on the year and finished 17th in the final BCS standings, so obviously Saban’s opinion is not far off. They finished 13th in the coaches’ poll behind Michigan who finished 12th, but as the Rapids Press pointed out MSU was well ahead of Michigan in the BCS standings so Saban’s vote did not affect their bowl status.
There are always going to be questions raised after the final votes are in, but the way people are reacting over Saban’s final ballot is is a bit dramatic. His team deserves the spot they were given anyway, and he voted their biggest threat 4th just to give them an extra kick down the polls. There aren’t many coaches in the country who wouldn’t do the same if put in a similar position.
