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I heard a story about the first year that Saban was at Alabama.  Now bear in mind this is 3rd or 4th hand by the time it made it to me, but it parallels the whole uniform thing. 

 

A kid who had been promised by the previous staff that he could have his old high school number walked up to Coach Saban and explained to him that he would be changing his number as the previous coach had promised.  Allegedly, Coach Saban explained in no uncertain terms that if he wanted to change his number he would have to earn that right on the field regardless of what the previous staff might have promised.

 

Now, I might also mention that this kid was so far down the depth chart that the chances of him coming on the field for the final kneel down of a game that we were leading 85-0 would be slim.  So, when the team started drills Coach Saban supposedly called the kid up to take a rep and run the ball.  He also supposedly unleashed the linebackers on the kid full throttle which had about the same result as a possum running headlong into a pack of 18 wheelers.

 

When the defense climbed off the kid supposedly looked up to see Coach Saban standing over him.  "So tell me," the Coach alledgedly asked," do you think having a different number on your jersey would have given you a different result?"

 

Now, whether this is true or not I think it's safe to assume that Coach Saban believes that it's how you prepare not what you wear that determines the outcome of games.