Nick Saban explains why he does not set expectations

Since Nick Saban has been the head coach at Alabama, the expectations coming from outside the program have been sky-high. Those are expectations that Alabama has typically lived up to, though they’re not expectations that Saban likes to set for the Crimson Tide.

During an appearance on Get Up, Saban explained why he doesn’t like to set actual expectations.

“I really don’t like to set expectations,” Nick Saban said. “I think sometimes when you have expectations it’s actually just a precursor to disappointment. You can take your golf game and if your goal was to shoot less than 80 and all the sudden you shoot 73, then that becomes a standard, then you’re disappointed with 79.”

Instead of looking at long-term goals and what you think the program should be accomplishing by the end of the season, Saban wants to keep the focus on the process itself. If that process goes well and players do what they need to do in it, then those good results are going to follow.

“So I think we want to focus on the process of what we need to do to get everybody to play winning football at their position. You mentioned the quarterback position, but it’s just as important at every other position for everybody to be committed, hungry and ready to do what they need to do to be the best player they can to play winning football.”

With six national championships during his time at Alabama, it’s easy to see why people want to set massive expectations on Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide’s shoulders. However, it’s also proof that Saban’s approach to the process works well.

Nick Saban on the idea people are writing off Alabama

After Georgia won back-to-back national championships and LSU won the SEC West in 2022, the top of the SEC has seemingly become a crowded field. Because of that, there is some debate about where Alabama is now standing in the conference.

For his part, Nick Saban believes the Crimson Tide are being written off.

“Well, I think it’s true. We lost the national championship game two years ago, we didn’t make the playoffs last year. I didn’t think our team sort of played in certain portions of games to end games on the road at Tennessee and LSU like we needed to to be able to have a chance to be successful (last year). And it’s very disappointing and I take responsibility for that,” Saban said.

“But I do think our players, sometimes the expectations affect players in a negative way in terms of creating some complacency, which is a challenge to overcome. And then sometimes when you get a little negative rat poison I call it, it actually becomes something that creates a little hunger and makes players want to prove something. So hopefully, you know, that scenario of proving something is something that helps motivate us throughout the season.”