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Nick Saban has a specific speech he would deliver to his team around the midway point of an unbeaten season. During a segment on ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning, Saban and the rest of the pregame show’s panelists were discussing the 6-0 start for Texas and the attention shifted to Saban.
The former Alabama coach was asked what his message would be to the Longhorns, who are coming off an emotional, 34-3 win over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl and now have to refocus and take on No. 5 Georgia.
“About this time of the season, if you’re undefeated — and we were a few times — I’d always give a nothing speech,” Saban said. “I’d walk up in front of the players and I’d say, ‘If you wake up in the morning and you feel entitled, what would that get you?'”
And then Pat McAfee leaned over and shouted “nothing!”
Saban continued: “If you think somebody owes you something, what would you get?”
And the crowd shouted “nothing” back.
Saban continued: “If you lose your discipline and your work ethic, what would that get you?”
And the crowd shouted “nothing” back.
Saban continued: “If you fail to prepare and pay attention to detail, what would that get you?”
And the crowd shouted “nothing” back.
Said Saban: “So, nothing is more important than staying focused on being the best you can be no mater what you choose to do. That would be my speech for all those 6-0 teams.”
Coach Saban has the Texas crowd FIRED UP pic.twitter.com/0jdDjzy9rc
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 19, 2024
Saban made it through 2 full seasons with an unbeaten record during his Alabama tenure. His Alabama teams started 6-0 11 times and went 12-0 in the regular season 5 times. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian probably heard that speech in 2016 while on Saban’s staff.
Might not be a bad idea to steal something else from his former boss.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
