Nick Saban on coaching in SEC: 'What happens to me when we lose 3?'
Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide advanced to the SEC Championship game against Florida on Saturday thanks to a 29-13 win against Auburn in the Iron Bowl last week.
Here is what Saban had to say during his weekly press conference on Monday:
On current coaching environment:
Saban asked about his success raising the coaching standard around the nation. Gives a very long answer …
— BamaCentral (@BamaCentral) November 30, 2015
Saban: "I would be more concerned about when we lose three, what's going to happen to me?"
— BamaCentral (@BamaCentral) November 30, 2015
Saban then goes on about how they're supposed to develop young men and then 9 wins isn't good enough. A lot of negative energy out there.
— BamaCentral (@BamaCentral) November 30, 2015
On Iron Bowl win:
Nick Saban on Iron Bowl win: Not our best execution, but the players kept competing and fought hard for the win.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
Saban: Iron Bowl wasn’t necessarily our best consistency and execution, but the players competed well, came out with a win.
— Sean Landry (@LandrySean) November 30, 2015
On injuries:
Saban: No new injuries.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
On playing Florida in SEC Championship game:
Saban: Florida is probably the best overall team we've played against all year long.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) November 30, 2015
Saban: Anybody out there who thinks this isn't going to be a tough game for us, I don't know what you're thinking.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
Saban said people should respect Florida, who has a good team and beat "Ole Miss bad, the team that beat us."
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
On working with DC Kirby Smart on the Crimson Tide defense:
"I try to be a good graduate assistant whenever I can," said Nick Saban when asked about how he works with Kirby Smart on defense. #Alabama
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 30, 2015
On initially hiring Kirby Smart, Saban said he wanted to get a younger guy who would be with him for a while. "It worked out great."
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
On Florida QB Treon Harris:
Saban: Treon Harris reminds me a lot of Blake Sims in terms of his style of play.
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
On the success and usage of Derrick Henry this season:
Saban said the entire offense & staff deserves credit for the big season Derrick Henry has had. Said Henry would be the 1st to tell you that
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) November 30, 2015
Saban: It was not our intention to have Derrick Henry carry the ball 46 times and 14 times in a row in the fourth quarter.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) November 30, 2015
Saban on RBs behind Henry: We definitely need more guys to be able to contribute at that position.
— John Zenor (@jzenor) November 30, 2015
On if his success has changed expectations for other coaches around the league:
Saban on how his success affects other coaches' standards: "I would be more concerned about … when we lose 3, what's going 2 happen 2 me?"
— John Zenor (@jzenor) November 30, 2015
Saban: I'm old school and I care what college football is and what it should be about. We're supposed to help and develop young people.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) November 30, 2015