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http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/09/nick_saban_says_alabama_has_a.html
Throughout the preseason and Alabama's first two games, Nick Saban has repeatedly mentioned the positive vibes he's felt about the Crimson Tide's intangibles.
The Alabama coach doled out, perhaps, his biggest compliment yet during his Thursday radio show, when he said this year's team had "a lot less selfishness" than teams of the recent past.
"I think it shows in how they play," Saban said. "That doesn't always equate to how we execute but the effort, the toughness, the enthusiasm, has really been good. That's what's helped this team improve and get better and we need to continue to do that."
Saban's praise started with Alabama's seniors, whom he described as a "really good group." He singled out three of them: quarterbackBlake Sims, offensive tackle Austin Shepherd and tight end Brian Vogler.
In regards to Sims, Saban once again highlighted his enthusiastic reaction to Jacob Coker's first touchdown pass of the season last week against Florida Atlantic.
"Blake Sims is probably as well-liked as any guy on our team," Saban said. "I think that his character and enthusiasm and how he puts the team first is so evident.
"Jake Coker throws a touchdown pass last week and the first guy to give him a big bump is Blake. Happy, excited that the guy did well. I think he's that way about our whole team."
RELATED: Saban explains biggest challenge facing Jacob Coker
During the preseason, multiple players said there was a concerted effort to establish more unity after a 2013 season that, from start to finish, was rife with rifts between older and younger players. The bonding activities ranged from cookouts to video games to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Though players have shied away from saying last year's consecutive losses to Auburn and Oklahoma fueled their motivation for 2014, Saban said they've been driven to "prove something and create a new identity" because of how 2013 unfolded.
"There's just a lot of guys on our team that are so much more team-oriented in terms of wanting to do well," Saban said. "Some of those circumstances may have been created by how we finished last season and they want to prove something and create a new identity as a team.
"The older guys on the team have been very, very good in buying in to the things that have helped us be successful in the past, the principles and values of the organization and put the team first."
Throughout the preseason and Alabama's first two games, Nick Saban has repeatedly mentioned the positive vibes he's felt about the Crimson Tide's intangibles.
The Alabama coach doled out, perhaps, his biggest compliment yet during his Thursday radio show, when he said this year's team had "a lot less selfishness" than teams of the recent past.
"I think it shows in how they play," Saban said. "That doesn't always equate to how we execute but the effort, the toughness, the enthusiasm, has really been good. That's what's helped this team improve and get better and we need to continue to do that."
Saban's praise started with Alabama's seniors, whom he described as a "really good group." He singled out three of them: quarterbackBlake Sims, offensive tackle Austin Shepherd and tight end Brian Vogler.
In regards to Sims, Saban once again highlighted his enthusiastic reaction to Jacob Coker's first touchdown pass of the season last week against Florida Atlantic.
"Blake Sims is probably as well-liked as any guy on our team," Saban said. "I think that his character and enthusiasm and how he puts the team first is so evident.
"Jake Coker throws a touchdown pass last week and the first guy to give him a big bump is Blake. Happy, excited that the guy did well. I think he's that way about our whole team."
RELATED: Saban explains biggest challenge facing Jacob Coker
During the preseason, multiple players said there was a concerted effort to establish more unity after a 2013 season that, from start to finish, was rife with rifts between older and younger players. The bonding activities ranged from cookouts to video games to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Though players have shied away from saying last year's consecutive losses to Auburn and Oklahoma fueled their motivation for 2014, Saban said they've been driven to "prove something and create a new identity" because of how 2013 unfolded.
"There's just a lot of guys on our team that are so much more team-oriented in terms of wanting to do well," Saban said. "Some of those circumstances may have been created by how we finished last season and they want to prove something and create a new identity as a team.
"The older guys on the team have been very, very good in buying in to the things that have helped us be successful in the past, the principles and values of the organization and put the team first."
