🏈 Terry Saban Says Alabama Fans Aren't So Appreciative, but He Isn't Leaving

[planomateo]

Clutter. The WSJ wrote the article in a clever way.

 

[Bamabww]

Good read. Thanks for the link.

 

[BamaFan334]

They outta offer those tickets to recent alumni that just graduated. Scale down the student alottment until they show a demand that will actually take this seriously. I am all about the students getting more opportunity to attend games, but when you prove you can't fill your section it's time to take action. Florida State and Georgia Tech offer sections in their stadium to recent graduates that aren't exactly tipping the salary scales as they begin their careers right after graduation. I for one would love to benefit from this as I graduated in the Summer and was finally able to find a job in October, thus pretty much making it impossible for me to afford the secondary market's prices in tickets, whereas I could have afforded student pricing and even face value pricing. It kind of stinks right now for people in my situation, because either students are getting them and wasting them, or people with deep pockets are getting them and driving scalper prices up. Not to mention all of the corporations and ticket companies poaching these tickets from real fans that are interested.

 

['65 Cobra]

I read the whole article and despite the dramatizing of the point by the WSJ, Terry does still apparently feel to a degree that the fan base is less than appreciative in some ways and that we have gotten spoiled by the winning. I think there is something to that and it's not just the student section either. Look at A-day attendance the last few years. Look at the heights of the whining and moaning when we win, but not by enough or not convincingly enough. I could mention a few more examples, but the bottom line is we, as a fanbase, could probably stand to be more appreciative of just how amazing this run has been - and I'm talking to myself here as well. Maybe this Board can organize a Saban appreciation event or pass the hat to give Nick and Terry a plaque or something to show fan appreciation.

 

[TheChief]

Let me get this straight. The university pays Nick five million a year. They built a statue of him. They build new facilities and help him recruit. As a fan, I feel that Saban is an employee of the university. I'm glad he's good at what he does. If he wasn't, he would be relieved of his duties and someone else would be hired. I don't think, as a fan though, I owe Nick Saban anything. I sure don't owe his wife anything. Tell me how I'm supposed to show my appreciation. Bow down and worship? Never criticize him for anything he says or does (well, I haven't been doing that, but it's a fan's right to disagree and in fact it's a pastime that is time honored and should be expected by Saban)? I'm at a loss. Spoiled by the winning? What does that even mean? Give me a break. Seems to me that Saban's wife has millions of reasons each year to ignore things that fans say. I think she should do so.

 

[BamaFan334]

'65 Cobra makes a great point. Being from Georgia, an Alabama graduate, and now living back in Georgia we are consistently being called cry babies and spoiled rotten by other fan bases, mainly Georgia fans in my case. Now, that's coming from one of the most cocky fan bases I have come to know in Georgia, and just downright idiot fans, but there is something to be said about it even coming up for discussion. I do believe the new culture at Alabama is one that expects Championships and nothing less, with not even with a clue of how hard they are to come by. Declining attendance, decreased student participation, A-Day attendance, etc. is allshowing this unfortunate trend. I agree with Mrs. Saban's comments and understand they came from the heart and the desire to fill in the holes that we as a university and fan base have amongst ourselves. The ticket issue can be fixed, because I can come across 200,000 people in no time that would take tickets if they could one, get their hands on them, and two, not have to pay three to five times face value. Almost impossible to take your little boy or girl to a game at those prices, while some drunk (I got drunk at many a football games, but always stayed, so there are some that can do it) dumbass leaves early after paying $5 for a student ticket and leaving a hole for all of America watching to see in the stands. We gotta suck it up as a fan base and understand just exactly what we're having accomplished in front of our very eyes. Kirk Herbstreit said it best during the Alabama-Notre Dame broadcast. He stated that college football has never seen anything like what is going on in Tuscaloosa, and that he believes we're simply in the middle of this. You don't think Georgia, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Florida State, USC, Texas, or any other big university would love to be doing what we're doing? Just think of how Auburn fans are feeling right now, even though they have one to hang their hats on, their biggest and most hated rival is kicking butt and taking names. How would we feel if Auburn was doing it? We'd be drooling and praying it happened to us. Well it's happening and we have to appreciate it on all levels. My apologies for ranting, but '65 Cobra hit the nail on the head.

 

[TheChief]

She can start with my comments.:icon_lol:

 

[BamaFan334]

If you were a student and actually seeing the benefits his winning is bringing to the classrooms, you'd be more thankful. $25 million the school gets for going to a BCS Championship game, so he's made Alabama $75 million in the past four years in bowl games alone. Those winnings obviously go into an SEC pool and divided evenly amongst the conference, but that winning Saban brings to Alabama is going back into the football team, but into the university as well. So in fact, alumni and students have a lot more to thank him for than people that are just fans. I graduated with a degree in Accounting at Alabama this past Summer, and we have been gaining exposure, hiring new professors, remodeling the school of Commerce, getting more technology installed, and many other countless things due to the money the football team is bringing in and the money football donors are now giving to the program due to the bang up job he's doing on the gridiron. So maybe you should look a little further into the facts instead of coming on a blog acting unappreciative about the Saban family and their afforts towards the school you obviously pull for. I'm not saying get on your knees and go to work on the guy, but understand the full picture and what he's offering off the field. I believe his charity has also put tens of millions back into the local community, so that in itself also gives young kids a chance at things they otherwise would have never experienced.

If you don't believe me, then maybe this article can help you understand the asset he has become and some of the things he has accomplished for our team and our school.

http://ferrall.radio.cbssports.com/...rpaid-based-on-how-much-hes-worth-to-alabama/

 

[bamafan4ever]

Let me get this straight. The university pays Nick five million a year. They built a statue of him. They build new facilities and help him recruit. As a fan, I feel that Saban is an employee of the university. I'm glad he's good at what he does. If he wasn't, he would be relieved of his duties and someone else would be hired. I don't think, as a fan though, I owe Nick Saban anything. I sure don't owe his wife anything. Tell me how I'm supposed to show my appreciation. Bow down and worship? Never criticize him for anything he says or does (well, I haven't been doing that, but it's a fan's right to disagree and in fact it's a pastime that is time honored and should be expected by Saban)? I'm at a loss. Spoiled by the winning? What does that even mean? Give me a break. Seems to me that Saban's wife has millions of reasons each year to ignore things that fans say. I think she should do so.

Got to say, I'm tracking with you on this one. I do wonder if the interview was done prior to the Tennessee game or not but if it's a reaction to the attendance at the UT Chattanooga game, Ms. Saban will have to give me a break on that one.

It really comes off as the Sabans having some incredibly huge egos to feel that way to begin with. I can't imagine the adulation the Sabans get while in public on a day in, day out basis. Alabama fans have stopped short of building an alter to CNS and half the male children born in Alabama aren't named Nick........yet. I feel like I do a good job where I work but my thank you is compensation commensurate to the work I do. I don't require the amount of strokes some do apparently.

 

[TerryP]

Got to say, I'm tracking with you on this one. I do wonder if the interview was done prior to the Tennessee game or not but if it's a reaction to the attendance at the UT Chattanooga game, Ms. Saban will have to give me a break on that one.

It really comes off as the Sabans having some incredibly huge egos to feel that way to begin with. I can't imagine the adulation the Sabans get while in public on a day in, day out basis. Alabama fans have stopped short of building an alter to CNS and half the male children born in Alabama aren't named Nick........yet. I feel like I do a good job where I work but my thank you is compensation commensurate to the work I do. I don't require the amount of strokes some do apparently.

Considering the content of the article and how it spans over a decade I suspect what we have here is a series of quotes all put together in one piece.

It appears to me as an assignment that was turned in and rejected because of its length. Then before it went to press it ran into a series in significant edits.

I'd like to know the context of the interview. When I read what's written, there appears to me something missing.

That said, I don't see anything wrong with what's being said here. In fact, it sums up a portion of the fan base nicely.

The first couple of Alabama football may be standing on top of the world, but it isn't necessarily thrilled by the view. "You come to a crossroads and the expectations get so great, people get spoiled by success and there gets to be a lack of appreciation," Terry Saban said in an interview last week. "We're kind of there now."

In the end I really don't care. It strikes me as another way to generate traffic and sales. If an article has the words "Texas, Saban, and Alabama" in it...'tis going to sell.

Hrrmm...have to chortle a little...one thing is for sure; some fans take affront at anything.

 

[bama alum]

Dumb and Dumber on PTI just took a leap of faith and fully believe that one way to read this article is interpret it as Mrs. Saban is planting the groundwork for Coach Saban to leave, maybe take the USC job. THen it was the same tired crap they have been saying for years...He's known to leave - job history, job history... :shake: :shake: :shake:

 

[RollllTide!]

101,821 seats to fill at every home game is a lot of seats. Look at the list below of stadium capacity and the cities close by them. Most other stadiums have 2/3rds of the capacity. The student tickets are given to them at a very low price. If more tickets were available for the recent graduates or the sidewalk nation I believe it could be full if it is a decent team to play. If we play the Agriculture School of the Bell & Peppers we will not fill any stadium. Also technology has a lot to play with the fans with young kids or older couples without RV's. 52" screen makes the game great. It cost a lot less than season tickets. A lot of RV ers have said they can't park as close as they could a few years ago.

If a fan from another school knows that they have no chance of winning where is their motivation to come to Tuscaloosa


I know of a dozen Iron Bowl Parties this weekend that are nowhere near Tuscaloosa. I am having one myself. It doesn't meant that we are not grateful for Saban. We pull for the team no matter who the coach is. Winning takes care of everything. RollllTide!

[TABLE="class: sortable wikitable jquery-tablesorter"]
<TBODY>[TR]
[TD]Michigan Stadium[/TD]
[TD]109,901[SUP][3][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Ann Arbor, MI[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Michigan Wolverines football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Beaver Stadium[/TD]
[TD]106,572[SUP][4][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]State College, PA[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Penn State Nittany Lions football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Estadio Azteca[/TD]
[TD]105,000[SUP][5][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Mexico City[/TD]
[TD]

Mexico[/TD]
[TD]Club América, Mexico national football team[/TD]
[TD]Football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Neyland Stadium[/TD]
[TD]102,455[SUP][6][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Knoxville, TN[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Tennessee Volunteers football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ohio Stadium[/TD]
[TD]102,329[SUP][7][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Columbus, OH[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Ohio State Buckeyes football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bryant-Denny Stadium[/TD]
[TD]101,821[SUP][8][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Tuscaloosa, AL[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Alabama Crimson Tide football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium[/TD]
[TD]100,119[SUP][9][/SUP][/TD]
[TD]Austin, TX[/TD]
[TD]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Texas Longhorns football[/TD]
[TD]American football[/TD]
[/TR]
</TBODY>[/TABLE]

 

[ElephantStomp]

That was a good article, I thought it was written well. I can Ms. Terry's points and agree. I'm as guilty as anybody with complaining about certain decisions throughout the course of a game even though we win. I see nothing wrong with her comments or the article.

 

[bcracker]

Let me get this straight. The university pays Nick five million a year. They built a statue of him. They build new facilities and help him recruit. As a fan, I feel that Saban is an employee of the university. I'm glad he's good at what he does. If he wasn't, he would be relieved of his duties and someone else would be hired. I don't think, as a fan though, I owe Nick Saban anything. I sure don't owe his wife anything. Tell me how I'm supposed to show my appreciation. Bow down and worship? Never criticize him for anything he says or does (well, I haven't been doing that, but it's a fan's right to disagree and in fact it's a pastime that is time honored and should be expected by Saban)? I'm at a loss. Spoiled by the winning? What does that even mean? Give me a break. Seems to me that Saban's wife has millions of reasons each year to ignore things that fans say. I think she should do so.

Amen, Chief! There is not a fan base currently in existence that has been more loyal and appreciative to their coach than Tide fans have been to Saban. And that leads me to believe that that message was meant for someone other than the fans. Like the administration?

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

It doesn't matter to me if CNS had a press conferance tomorrow and said that the fan base is getting spoiled or is spoiled. A child given filet mignon instead of beanie-weanies is gonna be spoiled.

We have it damn good, folks! I will give that man, his wife, & staff the room they need to do whatever they want. Request better facilities, check. Pitch a fit, I'll hand him the rake to clear off a spot. Doesn't matter. I will not get offened by it either b/c there are 3 crystal trophies in 4 years & another is w/in reach. Damn right we are spoiled!

A note about this is that Ms. Terry said "We can't change expectations or change lack of appreciation. We have to change our mind-set. We have decided: this is where we are going to end our career." Unfortunately, this is the yoke CNS & family must carry. I have no problem doing my best to lighten the load. You might not, thats fine, but I will. I've always thought that if anything runs CNS off it'll be from the inside & not any other source. I still think that; I just hope that the Saban's do not have any plans to end things soon.

 

[JoshB]

Clutter...

 

[BigAl]

Let me get this straight. The university pays Nick five million a year. They built a statue of him. They build new facilities and help him recruit. As a fan, I feel that Saban is an employee of the university. I'm glad he's good at what he does. If he wasn't, he would be relieved of his duties and someone else would be hired. I don't think, as a fan though, I owe Nick Saban anything. I sure don't owe his wife anything. Tell me how I'm supposed to show my appreciation. Bow down and worship? Never criticize him for anything he says or does (well, I haven't been doing that, but it's a fan's right to disagree and in fact it's a pastime that is time honored and should be expected by Saban)? I'm at a loss. Spoiled by the winning? What does that even mean? Give me a break. Seems to me that Saban's wife has millions of reasons each year to ignore things that fans say. I think she should do so.

Your exactly right i agree with you 1000%. But i wonder if in a real sly way shes saying if UA wants to keep Saban we need to anti up. :chat_headscratch:

 

[MissingRing]

Amen, Chief! There is not a fan base currently in existence that has been more loyal and appreciative to their coach than Tide fans have been to Saban. And that leads me to believe that that message was meant for someone other than the fans. Like the administration?

Yes, my thoughts also. Ms. Terry is smart enough to know that the relatively small number of Alabama students who leave games early don't represent the larger fan base, and also that no fans, anywhere, are going stay seated for the duration of a game when their team is up 35 to 0 (or whatever) against a creampuff. Any attempt to pinpoint the intended recipient of her "fan apathy" comments would be pure speculation, but I will say that I do not think that she would have made such statements if Mal Moore were still the AD.

 

[TheChief]

Amen, Chief! There is not a fan base currently in existence that has been more loyal and appreciative to their coach than Tide fans have been to Saban. And that leads me to believe that that message was meant for someone other than the fans. Like the administration?

I went to the fund raiser in Athens, TN where he spoke. I am totally a Saban fan. Total respect for the man. Damn hard worker, and he's damn good at what he does. I'm like you. I go to all the games I can, otherwise I'm watching on TV. There's not a fan on this board who hasn't muttered, "Who called that play?" I have to agree that there is no way the Saban's are dissatisfied with this fan base. The students leaving a void in the stadium? Who knows? Bird, you are right. Clutter.