Nick Saban, Alabama players address "naysayers" following Iron Bowl victory

On3 imageby:Clint Lamb11/26/22

ClintRLamb

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama now has another 10-win season under its belt after a 49-27 victory over Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl. That’s fifteen in a row for the Crimson Tide, which breaks the major college football record. For most programs, that’d be considered a successful season. For Alabama fans, it’s considered a disappointment.

This is a program that comes with intense expectations. It starts with an SEC championship. Then, it’s time to talk College Football Playoff appearances. But even then, it’s still not enough. For some — most even — it’s national title or bust. Unfortunately, Alabama won’t be participating in the SEC Championship Game. It’s also still a long shot for a Playoff appearance.

Those shortcomings have created critics. The media criticisms are expected, but from the fans and former players? Well, those fans are frustrating Alabama coach Nick Saban. In fact, they’re causing the program unnecessary headaches in the eyes of the seven-time national title-winning head coach.

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“People who are negative and naysayers, if they support the University of Alabama, you are hurting the university and hurting the program because it’s a reflection on our culture and how positive we are,” Saban said. “And this program was built on positive. It was built on 95,000 people coming to the spring game the first spring we were here and everyone wanted to be a part of that.

“It wasn’t built on naysayers. It wasn’t built on negative. It wasn’t built on expectations that, if we don’t succeed at a certain level, that there’s going to be a lot of criticism. And I think that brought this team together more than anything else.”

As Saban pointed out, he isn’t the only one who’s seen all the criticisms. The players have noticed it too, but they’ve decided to use it as a way to come together. That’s certainly the right mentality, and you’ve seen it make a difference over the last three games.

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“Everybody was so down after the (LSU) loss, and it helped give us something to rally upon and lean on each other,” veteran offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. told reporters after the game. “I think we got a lot closer through those experiences and maybe helped us in the last couple of games.”

Whatever they’re doing, it’s working. Sure, there were some rough spots in the 34-0 victory over Austin Peay, but we’ve seen really good Alabama teams struggle with those types of opponents. Sometimes, finding the motivation for those games can be difficult. I do think their last six quarters of football against FBS teams — SEC opponents at that — have been encouraging.

First off, they did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmages in the second half against Ole Miss. We haven’t seen that much from Alabama this season. Then, also we saw some encouraging changes in the personnel and the offensive attack. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien did a much better job of utilizing the vertical passing game to go along with more run-pass options, or RPOs.

It might be too little, too late, but at least this team feels like it’s finally moving in the right direction. Now, it’s about maintaining that positive growth.

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