Did missing the Iron Bowl reinvigorate Nick Saban? The Alabama coach responds
By Keith Farner
Published:
One of the biggest adjustments this season at Alabama was coach Nick Saban missing the Iron Bowl because of a positive COVID-19 test. It was difficult for Saban as communication with the team was cutoff before kickoff, and he had to be at home watching the Crimson Tide make adjustments without him.
But did the time away from the team reinvigorate him? At a press conference on Thursday to preview the SEC Championship against Florida, Saban took issue with that word.
“To be reinvigorated, I guess you have to not be vigorated. I was vigorated before. I was disappointed and I was happy to get back,” he said. “I don’t know what the speculation there was about. I hope I’ve been vigorated all year. I owe that to the players. That’s my job.”
This is Alabama’s 13th appearance in the SEC Championship, and the Crimson Tide have gone 8-4 in those games, including six wins with Saban on the sideline. The one loss came against Florida when the coach this week on the opposite sideline, Dan Mullen, was the offensive coordinator.
“We’re looking forward to playing in the SEC Championship Game, which we think is one of the best competitive venues our team has ever been a part of,” Saban said.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
