Ryan Williams says it was ‘like a Nick Saban moment’ when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to Alabama football team
By Mark Kern
Published:
Ryan Williams and the Alabama Crimson Tide are looking like a team that can win the College Football Playoff as they are now 8-1 on the season after defeating LSU, 20-9, in Week 11.
The Crimson Tide are in complete control of making it to the SEC Championship, as they join the Texas A&M Aggies as the only two teams without a conference loss.
Before that win against the Tigers, the team was talked to by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who just helped the Dodgers win a second consecutive World Series. Being able to hear from a legendary coach like Roberts is something Williams won’t forget.
“It caught us by surprise … I think some of the guys didn’t know who he was until he started speaking, and it was almost like a Nick Saban moment,” Williams said. “People started snapping and it was like, OK, we need to listen.”
The expectations when it comes to playing at Alabama is that the team is competing for a national championship every year. No one understands that better than Roberts, as the Dodgers are in the middle of a dynasty. Williams said there are similarities to the Dodgers run for Alabama, and Roberts laid that out to the team.
“He just gave us some words of encouragement and advice — that we’re basically in the same position that the [Dodgers] are in, and we’re always gonna get everyone’s best,” Williams said. “Just to focus on the game because the game will honor you. Staying humble, staying grounded and continuing to focus on being in the moment.”
Roberts and Kalen DeBoer became friends a couple of years ago when DeBoer was able to spend some time around him. They continued to talk and DeBoer saw the team in action against Milwaukee, and Roberts returned the favor by meeting with DeBoer’s team.
