Skipping past the LeBron James fooferaw, it seems Nick Saban’s on a bit of a mission with his new haircut show.
Saban added more depth to the conversation by adding this, which is important to the whole idea behind the creation of “Bama Cuts:”
“But I still think there’s mis(information) about Alabama football. There’s mis(information) out there that people get told they can’t play here, people get told things that really aren’t exactly right.”
You can almost see the self-awareness on screen as Saban speaks. A man who supposedly doesn’t even know how to send a text let alone use “Miss Siri” understands how negative recruiting is effecting his classes. What better way to combat that than with a new recruiting tool that pulls back the curtain on a man and a program that focuses inward exclusively.
If you’re a ‘Bama fan, some people use recruiting tools and some people are recruiting tools.
Funny how it didn’t bother those folks when Kirby was inside the tent.
Get The Picture 
Saban is just getting outworked, that’s all.
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Rome didn’t fall overnight.
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no doubt….Saban still has the most talent (on paper) than any college football team out there. But, the dawgs are closing quick. Another couple of years like the last two may do it….
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IMO, with the signing of our ’18 class, the talent gap has officially closed with them. Bama has lost a lot of talent to the NFL over the past few years, and with our #6, #3 and historic #1 recruiting class, you could make the argument that Bama perhaps still has a bit more depth, but that’s about it. Certainly by next year at the latest the gap will be completely shut.
Almost as important is the talent gap between us and UF/UT is widening, and I don’t see them catching up anytime soon barring something totally unforeseen.
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This is the last I have seen with most “blue choppers”. Bama has 80% of their roster as blue chippers. OSU is 2nd and UGA is 3rd:
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sbnation.com/a/cfb-preview-2017/blue-chip-ratio/amp
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I agree, we are better/deeper at some positions, they are better/deeper at others. The total number of blue chippers may show a slight edge to Alabama but we cannot use quality of talent as an excuse. That showed in the title game as they had to get off the deck to come from behind to catch us, some years they will win, others it will go our way. Respect them, but don’t fear them, we should be able to hold our own and not hide behind a talent edge they once had over us. We also closed the “experience edge” some this past winter with three huge, high pressure games. They will be a tough out in Atlanta this December should we both get there; but that is a game I look forward to seeing played. Not sure who wins it, but it isn’t an uneven fight if both are healthy.
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They loved Kirby when he ran around Georgia running down the Dawgs to convince blue chips to come to T-town. Now that the weapon has been turned back on them … not so much.
Cry me a river, Bammers.
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No wonder College coaches get paid like they do having to do some of the shit they have to do to maintain an edge in recruiting.
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People think these guys are geniuses at X’ and O’s but truth is the salesmanship of recruiting and the politics of keeping alumni, AD, President etc of the school are very big parts in being an employed Head Coach.
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This is correct; well said. Not sure about the rest of you, but in my experience, the most successful people I’ve associated with – whether they are a banker, veterinarian, mechanic, etc. all had a higher EQ and better people related skills than their counterparts. Politics also plays a huge role, as those who can navigate landmines, manage the egos of others, etc. puts them even further ahead of those who are politically inept.
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Agreed, the flip side of my post is the Xs and Os often isn’t that complex and if the job was just that, I don’t doubt many on here could call a good game.
However, can they recruit, play the politics with those that influence hiring firing, sell the need to get resources for the program (IPF, locker room), and motivate players? They need the vision, and people skills of a CEO, which is why Saban has been as successful as he has. Smart appears to have learned well from the master.
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Yep. To highlight a UGA related example, many UGA fans defended or make excuses for CMR, as they said he was never given the admin support that Kirby has been given. This makes me howl, as – simply put – CMR never demanded additional support that CKS and others have. Instead, he toed the company line and played nice.
CMR had tremendous political capital and overall goodwill built up over many years, but he never demanded needed investments. Only when Jeremy Pruitt arrived on the scene (who most barely had ever heard of) and called out the AD for not having a IPF in place (among other deficiencies) did finally something get done….literally that same week.
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” he never demanded needed investments”
Not publicly, who knows what went on behind closed doors.
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Perhaps, but if CMR was not getting the support he needed to succeed behind the doors, he easily could have went public like many successful coaches have done in order to get the needed improvements. So again that falls on him.
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CMR is dead to me.
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The CMR to Kirby comparisons no longer matter. What matters is the Kirby to CNS comparisons.
It seems to me that our guy is more “human”, creates a better environment for his assistants and is 24 years younger. I like where we’re sitting.
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Don’t recall where I read it, but someone said “Kirby is like Nick Saban, with charisma.” I think it was an article on Kirby’s meticulous recruiting approach. Anyways, never heard a truer statement.
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Whatever the case he failed in the politics or vision of keeping up with facilities and didn’t handle the roster very well.
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A higher “EQ”. Certainly that.
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Tell that to the Genius 🙂
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Looks like we’re on their mind. Good.
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One thing Saban learned from his time at the Dolphins was roster management and control. For the first few years at Bama this was done in a rather unmerciful manner. Seems like Smart learned the lesson well on management, without the stuff Edwards is currently doing at ASU.
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