Nick Saban endorses standard of excellence Alabama fans expect: 'We expect to win every game'

Nick Saban first introduced what he’d later coin as “the Bama Standard” during his introductory press conference back in early 2007. Then, the future seven-time national champion head coach promised Alabama would “be a champion in everything that we do.”
It was a pledge that struck a chord with disenfranchised Crimson Tide football fans who hadn’t known a national championship in 15 years. Just three short years later, Saban made good on his promise when he stood in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium and famously vowed “This is the beginning” in a celebration honoring Alabama’s 2009 BCS national championship win over Texas.
That “Bama Standard” has certainly been tested over the years, but never as much as it has since Saban retired in early 2024, giving way to the Kalen DeBoer era. But as the Crimson Tide prepares to avenge last season’s disappointing loss to an unranked Vanderbilt, Saban addressed how this season’s Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC) squad is upholding that standard of excellence, and how it’s impacted by the inflated perception of its fanbase. The 10th-ranked Tide host No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 SEC) in a Top 20 showdown at 3:30 pm ET Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
“There’s two things here, if you want me to be honest. There’s perception, which the perception of the Alabama folks after being here for all these years is win every game,” Saban said Friday during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “That’s first of all. It don’t make any difference if it’s Vandy, Florida, Georgia, it doesn’t matter. We expect to win every game. I like that standard. … I’d hate to coach at a place that didn’t have a standard and didn’t have an expectation that you were going to win the game.”
Saban then delved into how he’d like to see both Alabama and its diehard fanbase approach Saturday’s rematch with the undefeated ‘Dores this time around. Basically, the former coach wants the Crimson Tide to not only respect Vanderbilt but dish out a strong dose of “joyless murderball” for good measure.
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“I do think the Alabama folks have a much better respect for Vandy because of last year, even though we didn’t play very well and turned the ball over,” Saban continued. “I think it’s going to be really important in this game that we control the tempo in the game. We need to keep the ball on offense, run it a little better, because the one thing Vandy’s defense is going to be able to do is if they get you in third down, they have a really good pressure package and they’re bringing people from everywhere. So (Alabama QB) Ty (Simpson is) going to have to handle that.
“But if Alabama can run the ball, and have more balance on offense – because even at Georgia we didn’t run the ball that great. We just converted third-downs – 13-for-19 and 8-for-8 to start the game – so that was the difference in the game. … I don’t think you want to make that your M.O. as a team, I think you want to have balance, because it’s going to be tough to contain Vanderbilt the whole time, so keep the ball away from the guy (Diego Pavia).”
Given how Pavia carved up its defense for more than 300 yards of total offense last season, Alabama certainly won’t lack for motivation on Saturday. Especially if Nick Saban has anything to say about it.