Nick Saban’s weekly radio show is broadcast from Bob’s Victory Grill in Tuscaloosa on Thursday evenings:

  • Saban dropped a couple of hints that Blake Sims may be Alabama’s starting quarterback until further notice. In addition to making a reference about how the offense is a little different with “our” quarterback, he talked about how Jacob Coker can be so focused on what he needs to do he sometimes misses the big picture. An example was when time ran out running out just before halftime against Florida Atlantic. The coach said it’ll come with experience and time. Saban added that people underestimate how difficult it is for a player to adjust to a new offense and surroundings like what Coker has. Both quarterbacks are expected to play against Southern Miss on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
  • Saban called junior-college transfer offensive lineman Dominick Jackson one of the most powerful players on the team. However, “He played out of control at times” last week.
  • Every Friday night the team sees a motivational video and when checking out this week’s version Saban was reminded of something Ray Lewis said to the team last year: “What would you do today if tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed?” All fall he’s been telling players about how they need to be completely focused if they want to excel and this time he used the example of golfer Rory McIlroy and tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, who used to date. Both have been much better in their respective sports since they broke up. The coach added that there a lot of team-oriented veterans on the roster like Sims, Austin Shepherd and Brian Vogler, and less selfishness, which might have something to do with how last season ended.
  • One of the best lines in show history occurred when Saban told a story from the summer, about when he and Miss Terry were flying in to Tuscaloosa and he was reminded of when they first arrived in 2007. He leaned over to his wife and asked: “Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that we’d win three national championships here?” She responded, “Honey, you aren’t in my wildest dreams.”
  • Maybe because it was Sept. 11, which in addition to being the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks would have been Paul W. “Bear” Bryant’s 101st birthday, the show had a sentimental feel. When a female fan remarked that Saban reminded her of Bryant the coach responded that he doesn’t think anyone will ever be as good as Bryant was. On a question about his father, Saban said: “The best compliment I ever get is hearing from people that my dad would have been proud of the way the team plays.”