📡 Nick Saban is complaining about something that happens nearly every week - For The Win

[TerryP]

While the number of days between games may be consistent with the regular season, the amount of activity required is very different.

This is one of the reasons I don't get why UGA is practicing in Athens. The routine is already out of whack, so to speak, and now you're adding the extra travel?

 

[rick4bama]

Was he accusing us of spying? Would that have gotten back to our players just that way?

I think Dabo is a superstitious guy. Same 92 Tulane field, the same 92 Hotel. When he sprinkled grass on the Superdome, that was weird. Where's my Bud, I'm getting thirsty.

I read that he or someone on his staff said something about spying?

Who has an advantage here?

UGA plays on the west coast and flies back.
Bama plays in New Orleans and flies back.
Advantage, Bama.

Bama flies to ATL for game prep including practices.
UGA stays at home and is practicing in Athens.
Advantage, UGA.

Pretty well balances out in the long run, eh?

I read somewhere that Bama players got to Atlanta before UGA did?

 

[TerryP]

I read somewhere that Bama players got to Atlanta before UGA did?

UGA checked in last night.

 

[OldPlayer]

This is one of the reasons I don't get why UGA is practicing in Athens. The routine is already out of whack, so to speak, and now you're adding the extra travel?

Alabama beat Georgia to Atlanta by a few hours. Georgia didn't have to fly.

 

[sean]

does it matter? in the long run...does it really matter?

it's just an hour difference in time zones. both teams got the same week to prepare. uga got a 3-4 hours after their game to rest while our game was going on. they could've used that time to get clean, eat some dinner, rest/relax, and get ready to fly back to athens. later, we got to do the same thing. albeit, on a much shorter flight. it's just over 3 hours flight time from tuscaloosa to nola. direct flight from pasadena to athens is just over 4 hours. so they could've conceivably been back home by the time our game was over and we'd done the trophy presentation and the guys got all cleaned up and had some food. then we fly home while the uga players/coaches are back in their bed (for the most part; the assumption is much partying was going on, lol).

so it all balances out in the end.

and if anyone is thinking that them practicing in athens is ANY sort of advantage, just remember that we've played in the georgia dome (or super dome or whatever the hell it's called, now), as many times as they have. so it's nothing new to our guys.

 

[OldPlayer]

does it matter? in the long run...does it really matter?

it's just an hour difference in time zones. both teams got the same week to prepare. uga got a 3-4 hours after their game to rest while our game was going on. they could've used that time to get clean, eat some dinner, rest/relax, and get ready to fly back to athens. later, we got to do the same thing. albeit, on a much shorter flight. it's just over 3 hours flight time from tuscaloosa to nola. direct flight from pasadena to athens is just over 4 hours. so they could've conceivably been back home by the time our game was over and we'd done the trophy presentation and the guys got all cleaned up and had some food. then we fly home while the uga players/coaches are back in their bed (for the most part; the assumption is much partying was going on, lol).

so it all balances out in the end.

and if anyone is thinking that them practicing in athens is ANY sort of advantage, just remember that we've played in the georgia dome (or super dome or whatever the hell it's called, now), as many times as they have. so it's nothing new to our guys.

1. A flight from NOLA to Tuscaloosa is less than an hour (the flight from Atlanta to NOLA is less than an hour and a half).
2. UGA got on a flight after their game and flew back. Alabama didn't get out of the Superdome until 1 a.m. and flew back the next day (the coaching staff flew back at 8 a.m. and the team flew back around 11).
3. The Georgia Dome and the Mercedes Benz Stadium are two different stadiums (as is the Superdome).
4. Georgia could not be back in Atlanta by the time of the Sugar Bowl trophy presentation. Their game ended about 8 p.m. CST (6 p.m. PST). By the time Georgia got their trophy, got out of the locker room and to the airport, it was approximately 10 or 11 p.m. PST (1 or 2 a.m. EST). The flight is about five hours which puts them into Atlanta at 6 or 7 a.m. (the airport in Athens isn't big enough for a plane big enough to carry the team). I'm sure everyone slept on that flight.

 

[BamaFan334]

This is one of the reasons I don't get why UGA is practicing in Athens. The routine is already out of whack, so to speak, and now you're adding the extra travel?

Not to mention those assholes shut down 85 going to Atlanta each time with a police escort. 85 probably second busiest interestate in Atlanta behind 75.

 

[EasyTider]

So the championship will come down to whichever team may have gotten a power nap in the last 5-6 days.

 

[alagator]

Here's how UGA was able to practice at their own facility before national championship

Kirby Smart said the team had to ask permission from the playoff committee.

ATHENS, Ga. -- It seemed a little pointless.

The Georgia Bulldogs bused to Atlanta on Friday night to the team hotel for the national championship. They were up and at Philips Arena by 9 a.m. to answer the media's questions for one hour. After that, they got back on the bus and traveled back to Athens to their own facility for the final practice of the season.

Head coach Kirby Smart said on Saturday that the schedule was set up before the Rose Bowl. The playoff teams had to send in information on where they would like to practice before the first playoff game.

"We thought it would be best to be in our normal setting, which is to be in our meeting rooms, in our training room, in our recovery rooms, and on our practice field," Smart said.

Options for the Bulldogs included the Atlanta Falcons' indoor practice facility located in Flowery Branch. They also could have practice at Georgia Tech (did you really expect them to go there?). But Smart asked the CFP for permission to practice at their home, and it was granted.

They'll practice at their $30 million indoor facility the team opened last year before the current season started.

The drive back to Athens is about an hour and 10 minutes drive with a police escort, but the drive to Flowery Branch wouldn't have been much faster. Plus, the team wanted to stay inside and out of Alabama's way. But the Crimson Tide were able to practice inside Mercedes-Benz.

"The weather is cold. We're going to play inside," Smart said. "You know, it gives Alabama an opportunity to use the Georgia Tech place, facilities, so we don't have to share that one with them. It just works better for us. We think it gives us what we need, which is our facility, our rehab facilities, our meeting facilities, being familiar."

Being in their regular setting is definitely advantageous for the Bulldogs. They're used to busing. They did it a lot on Los Angeles. And it should help them create some more normalcy in a chaotic and stressful week.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban didn't have much to say about it.

"I've got enough to worry about, about our team," Saban said. "I'm sure their coaching staff is capable enough of making the right decisions for what they do. I'm worried about what we're going to do in practice today. I'm worried about our team."

The Bulldogs likely didn't save any money by busing back and forth to their own facility. But the familiarity may be worth it. Familiarity on the practice field, then familiarly in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they have already dominated an SEC West team to eventually get to the championship.

Here's how UGA was able to practice at their own facility before national championship