Even with the Alabama Crimson Tide, you can’t win every year. In the eyes of many, you will not always be successful.
With greatness in the sport of football often comes unreasonable wishes and desires from the program and fans to only view success as being on top at the end of the year. The players know it, the coaches know it. Second place is seen as the first loser.
This led a certain moment to revive in the minds of those who have enjoyed watching Nick Saban, as a clip reemerged following a postseason defeat.
After losing to the Georgia Bulldogs in the national championship, Coach Saban appeared to be finished with the press conference. Yet it was at this moment that he asked the players to wait a moment.
Grabbing each, Will Anderson and Bryce Young, slightly by the arm, a gesture in not only literally holding them back, but also metaphorically asking them to take a mental step back, he offered important words. Wanting to make sure that his players did not leave feeling ashamed or downtrodden over the recent loss, Coach Saban issued some perspective that he wanted to make sure everyone heard:
These two guys that are sitting up here, they’re not defined by one game. These guys played great for us all year, they’re great competitors, they were great leaders on this team, they contributed tremendously to the success of this team.
Coach Saban would go on to acknowledge the opportunity to grow from the moment, as well as the hard work and dedication that it took to be in the moment. After all, it’s not every year or every team that can say that they made it to the national finals.
Before leaving, the coach wanted to be sure to mention how proud he was of the two Alabama Crimson Tide players.
Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Focus On The Process
Of course, losing is frustrating. Nobody hated it more than coach. But for him, the attention and energy were always surrounding the work required to perform on game day. He was never one to focus on rankings, past matchups, winning streaks, or really any other accolades. Instead, he wanted to have his players as locked in as possible, unified, and being the best version of themselves every day to be able to contribute to team success.
Did it often lead to years ending in frustrating losses? Yes. But the results were always a byproduct. This moment between the players gave a public display of how he truly felt leading a team, and how much gratitude he had for the players and the dedication that they put into Alabama Crimson Tide football.
It is not known what his next chapter will be. If he so chooses, he has earned years of relaxing and worrying about the more mundane aspects of life, instead of how to prepare for the upcoming blitz packages against Ole Miss.
Whatever he decides to pursue, the lessons and teachings will not only remain for people to watch on the internet, but will continue to live on through all of his former players of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and his other previous stops.