BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Nick Saban'sbeen around long enough to know it's too early to start talking legacy in regards to his 2014 team.
The Alabama coach acknowledged as much during his Thursday radio show, but he went out of his way to praise his current group for what it's already accomplished. This wasn't a normal admission, either, Saban said.
"This is going to be a truth about this team regardless of what happens the rest of the season," Saban said. "This has been one of the most pleasurable teams we've had to coach."
Throughout the season, Saban has repeatedly discussed Alabama's strong team chemistry, an apparent major upgrade from last year's group that dealt with locker room issues as early as the third game. To further explain why, Saban cited a specific example from last week's dramatic win at LSU.
Alabama's players didn't want to see T.J. Yeldon blamed for the loss because of his fourth-quarter fumble, Saban said. It served as the inspiration behind Alabama's game-tying drive with 50 seconds to play in regulation and its game-winning touchdown in overtime.
"That was a huge motivation for our players," Saban said. "That speaks a lot of the team chemistry and how the players work through that with each other and sort of have each other's back."
Asked later in the show about the 10 freshmen who are poised to redshirt 2014, Saban stressed there was not a single player in the class with whom he was disappointed. He's been particularly impressed by their academic performance.
"We haven't always been the most consistent group in how we perform but they're still a really good group to coach," Saban said. "They all want to do well and they're very respectful. I think that team chemistry has really helped this team do as well as they have to this point and hopefully it carries through beyond this."
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The Alabama coach acknowledged as much during his Thursday radio show, but he went out of his way to praise his current group for what it's already accomplished. This wasn't a normal admission, either, Saban said.
"This is going to be a truth about this team regardless of what happens the rest of the season," Saban said. "This has been one of the most pleasurable teams we've had to coach."
Throughout the season, Saban has repeatedly discussed Alabama's strong team chemistry, an apparent major upgrade from last year's group that dealt with locker room issues as early as the third game. To further explain why, Saban cited a specific example from last week's dramatic win at LSU.
Alabama's players didn't want to see T.J. Yeldon blamed for the loss because of his fourth-quarter fumble, Saban said. It served as the inspiration behind Alabama's game-tying drive with 50 seconds to play in regulation and its game-winning touchdown in overtime.
"That was a huge motivation for our players," Saban said. "That speaks a lot of the team chemistry and how the players work through that with each other and sort of have each other's back."
Asked later in the show about the 10 freshmen who are poised to redshirt 2014, Saban stressed there was not a single player in the class with whom he was disappointed. He's been particularly impressed by their academic performance.
"We haven't always been the most consistent group in how we perform but they're still a really good group to coach," Saban said. "They all want to do well and they're very respectful. I think that team chemistry has really helped this team do as well as they have to this point and hopefully it carries through beyond this."
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