Seeking a brief respite from this bitter cold snap, and the flaming rhetoric of the national political scene, I offer a warm and genuine salute to a man of intelligence, ability and leadership...even though he leads a team I do not support, towards victories which I almost universally oppose.
I speak of course of among the most successful coaches in the history of college football, the recently retired Coach Nick Saban of the University of Alabama. I am a dyed in the wool, Red & Black, Georgia Bulldog. I can't see the color "Crimson" without pointing out it is actually closer to maroon, or the Alabama stylized A-logo, without pointing out that’s our Atlanta Braves "A," with a mullet.
Coach Saban had the additional challenge, while piling up earlier winning streaks at Michigan State and LSU, of being unfavorably compared to Alabama legendary Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. But Saban now moves from coach to fan and booster, with quite a few more wins than the Bear, and certainly more championship and bowl titles.
And unlike many other UGA and SEC rivals, I don't envy, dislike or hold grudges against Coach Saban. Compared to former South Carolina and University of Florida Coach Steve Spurrier, Coach Saban is a gentleman. Saban builds programs, players and coaching staff, and even when they move on and become his competitors, he still wishes them well, and even appreciates their wins and success.
It speaks volumes that within days of Saban announcing his plans for retirement, and losing a close contest for another CFP Championship, nearly one dozen of his standout players announced plans to move into the player portal for trade and relocation, prior to any announcement about Saban's potential successor.
I consider UGA’s three 'arch-rivals' to be Florida, Clemson and Auburn, with Auburn and Georgia enjoying the longest college football rivalry in the SEC, and only surpassed in longevity by Harvard v. Yale. But having my firstborn child, two sisters, one niece and Olivia's mother among my cadre of close Auburn alumni friends, I always solidly root for my team, but I can abide the occasional loss, once or say twice a decade to those Tigers/Plainsman, uttering their victorious cry of "War Eagle."
And for some reason, I can't bring myself to hold any ill will towards that charming Trade School on North Avenue in Midtown Atlanta either. That Yellow Jacket mascot, Buzz, is really a cute little fellow.
All across Tuscaloosa, there are monuments to Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide in every direction. Nick Saban also has some sort of mesmerizing effect on SEC and bowl game officials, as in the most recent SEC championship, while referees clearly had at LEAST one thumb on the scale, Saban masterfully managed the game clock, and his players, I can say without fear of contradiction, simply out-played our Dawgs.
During the 2021 SEC Championship, a favored Georgia would lose 41-24 and be Rolled by the Crimson Tide. I had decent seats, in the Bama fans section, surrounded by Tide fans expecting the worst, but as that game delivered a different result, they didn't rub my nose in their rising Tide. The weather was cold, rainy and awful outside...and that loss was as painful as any of the many Steve Spurrier's Florida beat downs the Dawgs once took down in Jacksonville. But I didn't grit my teeth, and have no recollection of animosity towards Coach Saban. Again...we were simply out-played.
It also helps that UGA Coach Kirby Smart, potentially successor to that winning-est Coach title, is a protege and mentee of Nick Saban, along with Lane Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher and many others. Saban taught his coaches how to build player respect and discipline, and of course how to win. And they did not leave those skills behind when they left Tuscaloosa.
And I also greatly admire Coach Saban for going OUT on his own terms and still near the top of his game. Saban is not done with life, nor with college football...he is just retiring from coaching, with what appears to be plenty of money and time to enjoy life, as well as his wife, children and grandchildren. At 72, Saban is still fit, vibrant and has a future in other fields, should he be interested, including sports commentary, public speaking and possibly even book writing...or perhaps life coaching and he could make one call to the White House and another to Trump Tower...there is still time.
