🏈 Chris Stewart on Saban post-game: SABAN CAN STILL PEEL PAINT

[18Champs]

My job with the Crimson Tide Sports Network gives me a lot of access to the Alabama Football team on game day.

I am in the locker room after each ball game, and over the now six seasons that I’ve had this role as the network’s sideline reporter, I have had the rare opportunity to witness championship celebrations, as well as the heartbreak of a few devastating losses.

I’m a firm believer that what is done or said in a team’s locker room, stays in the locker room. It’s their team. Their family. And it’s not my place to share what I see or hear.

That being said…If you thought NIck Saban sounded ticked off in his post game press conference, you should have heard him talk to his team right after Saturday’s 38-10 win over Western Kentucky.

As he was expressing his – shall we say – ‘displeasure’ with the team, I started thinking, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this mad.”

No sooner did that thought go through my mind, I heard Saban basically say the same to his squad. It was a message he relayed in his press conference, as well.

That’s one of the things that has always fascinated me about Coach Saban. For all of the perception about how “secretive” things are within the organization, what he says to the media after a game is remarkably similar to what I have heard him say to his team just minutes earlier.

His consistency in his message, his actions, and his life, are part of the process that have made Saban one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.

And for those that have any illusion that Saban’s passion for coaching may be fading as he approaches his 65th birthday next month, I can only say you clearly weren’t in the room on Saturday night.

Saban can still peel paint | Chris Stewart Online

 

[Destiny's Child]

LOL! Like there was any doubt that a tantrum was coming. All this talk about mellowing out, the team having a half hearted week of practice and a sloppy game were we shot ourselves in the foot.... recipe for blow the F*** up!

Perfect timing as long as it is received well and the blowing up on Kiffin thing is part of the master plan IMHO. I used to manage a large sales team and when they would start going thru the motions.. I would come in to the office in a noticeably grumpy demeanor fire a couple comments off to different people and after an hour or so I would pull my hot shot sales manager into my office and absolutely unload for 15 minutes.. normally with a smile on mine and his face(behind closed doors). Then I would send him out with a wide eyed look on his face and wow the activity level would be off the charts.

It was a trick I learned from an old boss.. If the hot shot, number 1 salesman gets his butt blasted... no one feels comfortable to sit there and just go thru the motions. It normally led to a big sales week and a renewed team spirit.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Always liked Chris.

Great guy.

Great basketball play-by-play guy also.

 

[Destiny's Child]

Always liked Chris.

Great guy.

Great basketball play-by-play guy also.

Agreed. Love the way he calls the basketball games. He gets so excited sometimes he knocks off the microphone and stuff. My oldest son and I will sit and listen to him call the game rather than watch it sometimes..love it.

Hope he gets the call for football when Eli moves on or retires.

 

[UAgrad93]

OT but I coached EAST WEST HS baseball with Chris' brother Steve when he was at Minor and I was at Fultondale. I love the job Chris does! He makes you feel like you are in the gym whenever you are listening.

As for CNS, there have been several times that I have wanted to be in the lockerroom at the half to hear him "peel the paint" off the walls!!

 

[ColAngus]

I guess even Saban judges the performance of the team based on how the offense looked. I sure didn't see much on the defensive side to be mad about.