The True Gambler

[townhallsavoy 2]

Kenny Rogers said it best, "You've got to know when to hold em/Know when to fold em."

Has there ever been more of a gambler than the infamous Nick Saban? This is a guy who has been captain of four different ships in the past twelve years. Even when he has built a program to the highest point of success, he bolts for a new job. He risks his reputation, his family support, and his player's trust with every new job. However, never has Saban risked more than this season at Alabama.

Take this into consideration - Alabama hired Nick Saban to be their football savior. The eerie similarities to Jesus Christ was apparent when he got off the airplane on January 3rd, 2007. The Tide faithful immediately referred to the year as two-thousand and Saban. The local media outlets interrupted the funeral of a former president to show Saban being mobbed by desperate fans who just wanted to get a "feel" for their new coach. He was "it". As Paul ******** put it, there was "a new sheriff in town." This was an obvious jab at Tommy Tuberville. Nick Saban, the man known for turning the mediocre LSU Tigers into a national powerhouse, had arrived to bring the Crimson Tide back to national prominence.

When Nick Saban arrived at LSU, he was greeted with nothing. No circus, no parade, no yelling, no screaming, no hype, no expectations, no spotlights, no frenzy. There were no golf tournaments, no statues of former coaches, no destiny, no right-to-championships. Nothing was similar in LSU to Alabama except for one thing - the state of the team he was inheriting. Gerry Dinardo had lost his team. He had lost his recruiting. He had basically lost the program. With one game left in the season, Dinardo was packing his bags and joining the unemployment line. What was left behind was considered a mess. The mess included recruits who couldn't qualify, a disgruntled fanbase, and a team of players who had never heard of Nick Saban.

What was considered to be a team full of misfits, Nick Saban guided them to a record of 8-4. Their beginning was shaky, but with the guide of their new head coach, the LSU Tigers finished the year strong with a 5-1 record. They won the Peach Bowl against Georgia Tech. Nick Saban had turned the misfits into winners. He had taken the players that previously went 3-8 and taught them how finish on top. He had turned the mess into a organized and confident football team. The leadership from those players went on to help Nick Saban build a program that would win a national title. It was a joint effort. It was a relationship of respect between a coach and his players.

The situation at Alabama was also a mess when Saban arrived. Why else would the fans go crazy with joy? Two-Thousand and Saban - the man who cleaned LSU's sludge was here to save the day. Alabama had recruiting problems from probation and had a lameduck coach. Mike Shula left behind a recruiting mess, a disgruntled fanbase, and a team of players who had no idea how to win. They had no idea how to finish strong. With Nick Saban coming to town and with his reputation for focusing on the task at hand, it was a sure-thing to bet on Nick Saban.

However, he and the players had no relationship. They don't have respect for each other. The program, after two months of recruiting, spring practice, summer workouts, fall practice, and 11 games, is STILL a mess. It might even be a worse mess than before. Nick Saban tried to work his magic, but the program is in shambles. They might have suffered the worst loss in the deep rich history of the Alabama Crimson Tide program. The players have quit. There are rumors that Saban is going to run off a lot of current players. What purpose might Saban have to run off those players?

How much of a gamble is it to run off players? I would compare it to an overweight guy trying to walk a tight rope over a pool of crocodiles. What Saban had at LSU was LEADERSHIP and BELIEF from his players. They banded together to finish their first season together with a 5-1 record. They banded together to win the Peach Bowl. They banded together to win the SEC Championship. Those weren't Saban's players, at least not to begin with. They developed a special bond. They did the impossible - the took a gamble on each other and it led to success.

At Alabama, Saban hasn't (and hasn't since he got there) shown any signs of taking a gamble on the players. The off-the-field issues have proved that the players aren't gambling on Saban either. So he's running them off. He's risking his reputation as a coach, the trust of his fanbase, and the belief of his recruits. He's a true gambler, I'll give him that. The question is, will it actually work out in a time frame that is to the Crimson Tide faithful's liking?