Nick Saban on quick turnaround for national title game: 'Someone has to think about the players'
Leading up to the Sugar Bowl, Alabama and Clemson both had nearly a month to prepare (with the Crimson Tide having a bit of extra time since they didn’t play in the SEC Championship Game).
However, now the Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs only have one week to prepare for the National Championship Game.
That rubs Alabama coach Nick Saban the wrong way, and he said on Tuesday afternoon that he thinks it’s inconvenient for the players to have to play again so quickly:
Saban on the 1 week turnaround: "It's very difficult to come from a bowl game with 7 days to prepare. … This is, I think some kind of way someone has to think about (what's good for) the players, and not what's convenient for the media or TV or whatever."
— Alex Byington (@abyingtonTD) January 2, 2018
Of course, during the regular season, teams only have a week to prepare for their next opponents, but after having such a long layover prior to bowl season, Saban clearly thinks the players should have more time to ready themselves.
Will the quality of the title game suffer this time around because of the quick turnaround? That remains to be seen, but both teams will have to manage the next week carefully to bring home the CFP trophy.
Saban has been and is “the man” in cfb, no doubt. However, I do tire of hearing all his thoughts on the other stuff as if it’s the gospel. Imo, he uses his on-field-successes as a way to throw around his weight regarding the off-the-field decisions/issues. Every cfb team plays every 7 days throughout the season (minus their bye) and they have almost a month off before bowl game. There is no need or reason to drag on time between semis and final. Just stick to coaching, coach.
He is asked questions on these topics. He is just not dropping bits of information to do it. It’s usually a response to a question…
Yeah, first Saban gets ripped by libs for not commenting on politics and now he gets ripped for answering questions and giving an honest answer. There’s always someone complaining about something…
Would you still be complaining if he said no comment?
From a Dawg fan, I figured you would be for this given you guys are at a slight disadvantage here coming all the way from the West coast and essentially losing a day of practice. You think your guys aren’t jet lagged a little bit at all flying in today and have to start practice tomorrow? Don’t think an extra week would be so bad.
Listen guys, all of you made valid points. Again, no beef here with Saban the coach and honestly, seems like a pretty good dude from what I gather. #17: no complaining here, but yes, maybe that was a perfect time for a “no comment” or an “I don’t know, it is what it is.” Because he is who he is and what he has accomplished, it may behoov him to just occasionally pass? Just saying guys. Btw, best of luck next Monday.
Cptdawg123 I have a valid point for you, Kiss my ass
Stay classy thug, stay classy;)!
He can’t say no comment because someone will complain he didn’t answer the question.
Nick Saban has been in football since he was about 6 years old (almost 60 years) so he is the go to coach on subjects and he’s not shy about his answers. He doesn’t care who doesn’t like it, it’s how he feels about it. Just imagine how much better the game would be with two weeks. One week resting and the other preparing but we will have to see two teams that just played there hearts out to be there. Both teams will still have lingering effects from the playoffs. Would be a lot better game with two weeks.
The teams do have to travel from both playoff games. It’s not often you have back to back road games against quality opponents. No reason the first semi final games couldn’t be played earlier in the bowl season.
Several things here:
– The Dec. 20th early signing period should be moved/eliminated.
– There are too many bowl games. This is why so many players who see themselves as NFL prospects don’t play. Many of the teams going to a bowl game see it as free stuff and extra practice to start on next season. Need to eliminate half of the bowl games to make them desirable.
– Having the games on campus would be great for the big schools but horrible for schools that are a long way away from transit and/or lodging. For example, if Miss. State were to host a semi-final game on campus, what would the transportation and lodging situation be like? Getting to Starkville is difficult enough now. When up to half the crowd is for the other team, that would be an issue (plus it is a smaller stadium). Bama would have even more of an advantage than other teams. This year Norman, OK and Clemson, SC would have hosted.
– Moving the games would put the semi’s around Christmas and the finals after New Year’s meaning the big bowls (Rose, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, Fiesta, etc) would either not be affiliated with the championship playoff or their games would not be on/around New Year’s day. They would not like that. Keeping the semi’s at the bowl location and around New Year’s Day would mean pushing the championship out another week to around the 15th of Jan. Most universities have started the next semester by then as the NFL playoffs in full swing. I don’t see the championship being moved deeper into Jan.
I agree with Saban. They should at least have a travel day, then play the game on Tuesday or Wednesday. I’m sure it’s hard on the kids. The good news is the season is almost over.