BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
The mood is light and Nick Saban looks relaxed. His Thursday night radio shows are an oasis in a regimented week of preparation.
This week had a twist.
Tom Roberts, the show's host, delivered some disconcerting news and the superstitious coach wasn't happy. Every week, the first caller isPeewee from Grand Bay. This goes back years. But his call never came through.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Saban said, his hands out to his side. "We've won a lot of games around here with Peewee calling first."
The smile returned when Peewee grabbed the microphone at Bob's Victory Grille. For the first time in six years, the reluctant folk hero of Saban's radio show made the drive to Tuscaloosa to ask his question in person.
A few hundred fans, some of whom spent the previous night outside, packed half of the Midtown Village sports bar. And Saban remains the star, but the now-famous caller drew his share of attention Thursday night. Terry Saban, the coach's wife, pretended to bow down in his presence when introduced by a friend.
Standing about 15 feet from Saban's perch, Peewee enjoyed watching the coach answer his question. Usually he's leaning back in his chair at home, staring at a computer screen after firing off his well-prepared and researched question.
Saban rattled off a three-minute answer to Peewee's inquiry concerning Alabama's conditioning after the brutal win at LSU. He was rewarded with a gift card and a handshake from Saban.
He used to be nervous asking the questions, but he's an old pro after three decades of calling Alabama coaches.
"I was kinda leaning on the bar, kinda relaxed a little bit as I was talking to him," Peewee said after posing for a quick picture with a fan. "Because if you're just standing there, you get the nervous thing. You're taking to coach Saban. How much better can that get?"
Several fans stopped by to greet Peewee including a couple who listen every week from Illinois. A table full of women wanted a picture.
"All her friends were blowing her phone up," Peewee said with an aww-shucks look.
He's not in it for the fame. Peewee's your classic every-man who's carved a niche in this spectacle. So he poses, smiles and serves his fans.
"I do it to be nice," he said. "They want to do it, it's fine with me. I don't have a problem with it. I don't understand it."
Continue reading...
This week had a twist.
Tom Roberts, the show's host, delivered some disconcerting news and the superstitious coach wasn't happy. Every week, the first caller isPeewee from Grand Bay. This goes back years. But his call never came through.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Saban said, his hands out to his side. "We've won a lot of games around here with Peewee calling first."
The smile returned when Peewee grabbed the microphone at Bob's Victory Grille. For the first time in six years, the reluctant folk hero of Saban's radio show made the drive to Tuscaloosa to ask his question in person.
A few hundred fans, some of whom spent the previous night outside, packed half of the Midtown Village sports bar. And Saban remains the star, but the now-famous caller drew his share of attention Thursday night. Terry Saban, the coach's wife, pretended to bow down in his presence when introduced by a friend.
Standing about 15 feet from Saban's perch, Peewee enjoyed watching the coach answer his question. Usually he's leaning back in his chair at home, staring at a computer screen after firing off his well-prepared and researched question.
Saban rattled off a three-minute answer to Peewee's inquiry concerning Alabama's conditioning after the brutal win at LSU. He was rewarded with a gift card and a handshake from Saban.
He used to be nervous asking the questions, but he's an old pro after three decades of calling Alabama coaches.
"I was kinda leaning on the bar, kinda relaxed a little bit as I was talking to him," Peewee said after posing for a quick picture with a fan. "Because if you're just standing there, you get the nervous thing. You're taking to coach Saban. How much better can that get?"
Several fans stopped by to greet Peewee including a couple who listen every week from Illinois. A table full of women wanted a picture.
"All her friends were blowing her phone up," Peewee said with an aww-shucks look.
He's not in it for the fame. Peewee's your classic every-man who's carved a niche in this spectacle. So he poses, smiles and serves his fans.
"I do it to be nice," he said. "They want to do it, it's fine with me. I don't have a problem with it. I don't understand it."
Continue reading...
