If there’s one position Nick Saban is not used to being in it’s one as an underdog. You get the feeling that he kind of likes it, too.
Saban’s Crimson Tide were underdogs for the first time in 72 games when they matched up with Georgia last weekend. They came out looking like a power once again with a 38-10 win. And you better believe he loved reminding the media about that when asked about the outside perception of the team.
“I say the same thing as when y’all buried us last week” Saban said. “It really doesn’t matter what you think. It doesn’t really matter what you say. And I’m hoping nobody on our team is playing for [the media],” Saban said. “I hope they’re playing for each other and their team and what they want to accomplish and not what you think because that’s not certainly what I’m doing. I’m coach and working for our players and our team to be as good as it can be. And if that’s not pleasing to somebody else, it’s not pleasing to somebody else.
“I said before, I believe in our team. I do believe in our team and we’re going to work hard to make our team better. And I hope our players respond the right way.
“And it’s not going to be for you. The fans, yes. Because if it was up to you, we’re six-foot under already. We’re dead and buried and gone, gone.”
Saban has a fair point. The media tends to overreact regardless of whether it’s in a positive or negative way. If the team plays one good game, they’be back to being national champions again. If they play a bad game, they’re dog meat. And that’s all Saban was pointing out, but we just love his rants anyway.
