What's next <r>I fully expect the NCAA to change the rule making it illegal for the recruit to call the coach, then charge Alabama with breaking the new rule, then take 15 or 20 scholarships. That'll teach USC not to not arrange off campus housing for the family of student athletes in the future! <E>:wink:</E></r>
As much as Nick Saban makes my skin crawl, you have to give him credit for being sharp and working hard. He's dirty, untrustworthy, downright despicable sometimes, and one of the top 3 head football coaches in the college game.
Hmmm... so that's the "Saban Rule" eh? Seems like somebody forgot to tell Les Miles! It's Mack Brown's fault!
Saban can be an asshole but dirty, untrustworthy, I'm not sure. Anyway look for this videocam rule to be revoked soon.
Nick Saban reminds me of one of the great early minds of what became known as NASCAR. That man never "cheated". He simply streached the rules a bit. Smokey Yunick... master of the gray area
ND fans consider it the Charlie Weis rule. Funny though that Les is going off on Mack Brown, maybe he's still remembering pissiing away some big leads to Mack! Oh yeah, and Scott did you fall out of your chair laughing at Miles complaining about rampant cheating!!
Tom, As far as I can tell, when it comes to NASCAR, if you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'!!! :wink: :wink:
I'm curious because I've never heard of Saban being described as dirty. When has he been shown to be "dirty"? That's a pretty bold accusation. Since he left MSU, I've had no feelings about him one way or the other. There are a lot of things you legitimately can call him, but dirty......?
Yeah... I almost had an epoleptic fit when I saw that guy was talking about ANYBODY. I guess in the "lawless" state of Lousyanna, he's safe though...
Sid, I really don't know, a lot of fans saw that he brought in more than a few thug type of players (good players for sure) when he was at MSU, and it was kind of interesting that when he left for LSU not a single assistant came with him. Of course at LSU I think the assumption is always that the Tigahs might cut a few corners :wink: :wink: Then there was the deal with the Dolphins when he left to go to Alabama. Probably safe to say he's not a popular guy in a lot of circles, wheter or not he cheats I don't know. As Scott will confirm most B12 fans feel like Miles was not an honest on the up and up recruiter when he was at Okla State but he has a clean record with the NCAA as does Saban. Terry
Speaking of recruiting... http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/25/sp-dawg-has-his-day-aaron-murrays-close-call/?sports-prepsports By KATHERINE SMITH The Tampa Tribune Published: April 25, 2008 TAMPA - You want to know how hard this was? Just look into those eyes filled with tears. Want to know how hard it was for Plant High junior quarterback Aaron Murray to turn down the University of Florida in favor of SEC rival Georgia? Just look at the red carpet the Gators rolled out for Murray. During his visit to the school for the annual Orange and Blue game this month, Murray, his parents and Plant coach Robert Weiner were escorted into the Aaron Murray Suite. There was Steve Spurrier's jersey hanging, with his Heisman Trophy sitting below it. There was Danny Wuerffel's jersey hanging, with his Heisman Trophy below it. There was Tim Tebow's jersey hanging, with his Heisman Trophy below it. Then there was Aaron Murray's No. 11 Florida jersey hanging alongside the former Gator greats. Want to know how hard a decision it was for Murray? "It was so close," Murray says. "This was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I just felt it at Georgia." Georgia had been on Murray's mind for a while, especially since his visit for their spring game. He had UCLA on his mind for a while too. In all, there were 54 Division I scholarship offers for Murray to consider. Want to know how hard this was? Take a peek at a day in the life of Hillsborough County's leading passer as he prepares to make the biggest announcement of his young life. WEDNESDAY, 5 P.M.: Murray finishes a workout at Plant, then heads into Weiner's office to break down film with Plant's backup quarterbacks and tight end Orson Charles. Plant flag football coach Bo Puckett walks through the office on his way to the Panthers' district game against Chamberlain. Murray's younger sister, Stephanie, plays on the team. "If they win, I want to give the pregame speech next game," Murray says. 6:30 P.M.: Murray and Charles hit the Smoothie King across the street from the Plant campus before heading to the flag football game. They discuss what Murray will wear to his news conference, a simple pin-striped suit. He promises no switching hats or opening his shirt to reveal which college he will attend. It's mentioned that perhaps he could bring out an actual gator and a bulldog and point to one. "Maybe we could get a gator and bulldog to fight it out," Murray jokes. 7 P.M.: Murray joins his parents and other Plant teammates in the stands at Jefferson High to cheer on his sister. Throughout the game, Murray is hounded by people who want to know which college he is picking. An uncle with ties to Florida as a Bull Gator constantly calls Murray's mother, Lauren, wanting information. An aunt in Atlanta threatens to withhold a popular family recipe if Murray doesn't go to Georgia. After Plant beats Chamberlain 7-0 to advance to the next round of the playoffs, Murray greets his sister for their customary postgame hug. 8:30 P.M.: Upon the request of his mother, Murray gets a haircut. He jokes about getting "UF" shaved on one side of his head and a "UG" on the other so that at Thursday's announcement he could just turn his head to let people know his decision. He settles for a basic trim. Soon after, Murray crashes for the night. THURSDAY, 5:55 A.M.: Murray wakes up. His two dogs scramble around his feet as he gathers his backpack, his suit for the news conference and his dress shoes. Earlier in the week, Lauren Murray awoke in the middle of the night to find her restless son watching the DVDs of both Florida and Georgia. "I can't wait to just sleep," Murray says. 6:45 A.M.: Murray backs his car into a parking space at Plant. He meets Weiner in his office and the two take a tour of the locker room, where Weiner has set up various photos of Murray. His mother put together a collage that included a baby photo of Murray holding a football. Before he goes to his first-period U.S. history class, Murray stores some things in his locker. There's a quote he has pasted on the back of the locker that talks about the different paths people choose in life. It reads in part, "Be bold. Be Daring. Be Smart. But most of all, BE DIFFERENT." 10:25 A.M.: Murray puts his suit on as the nerves set in. "I feel like I'm going to throw up," he says. 10:55 A.M.: Murray and Weiner place a phone call to Florida's Dan Mullen to let the offensive coordinator know he won't be a Gator. 11:12 A.M.: After an introduction by Weiner, Murray steps to the podium. He thanks everyone from his youth soccer coach to his basketball coach at Most Holy Redeemer. When he gets to the part of his speech about his family, Murray breaks down in tears. 11:20 A.M.: Murray unbuttons his jacket to reveal a Georgia tie as he places a black Georgia hat on his head. "I humbly and proudly accept my offer to the University of Georgia," he says. 4:45 P.M.: Murray warms up in black and red garb with his Plant teammates for their weekly 7-on-7 passing league games. Every once in a while, someone barks like a dog. 5 P.M.: Murray is on the Blake High football field as the Plant quarterback. He drives his team down the field for several scores. You want to know how hard this decision was? The relief that the process is over is so evident on Murray's face as he dashes across the field doing what he's wanted to do all along. He is just playing football. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/25/sp-in-the-end-murray-goes-with-his-heart/ In The End, Murray Goes With His Heart By JOE HENDERSON Published: April 25, 2008 TAMPA - The words began to catch in Aaron Murray's throat just a couple of minutes into his speech Thursday. The kid can stare down a pass rush and still find the open receiver at 40 yards, but this was different. A standing-room-only crowd had turned out at the Plant High field house to hear Murray, one of the nation's top high school quarterbacks, announce where he will attend college. Mom was prepared, though. Lauren Murray suspected her son might not make it through his big moment without breaking down, so she was ready with a tissue when his tears began to flow. And flow they did. While Aaron dabbed at his eyes and breathed in deeply, mom whispered gently in his ear. "I let him know this was a happy time," she said. So it was, a happy time complete with tears of joy at a life well-lived and a future filled with limitless possibilities. It was an especially happy time for the University of Georgia, whose coaches cheered and screamed in Athens when Murray announced he'll go there to play college football after he finishes his senior season. Yes, he turned down Florida, along with 53 other schools that offered full scholarships. "Now I can focus on school and next season," he said after the announcement was made. "It is such a relief to have this over with." An Honor Student, Human In an age where the headlines too often tell the story of gun-totin' or bar-brawlin' football players, Aaron Murray stands before you as an honor student and human with honor. He has a 4.65 grade-point average. His course load this semester includes advanced placement classes in American History, English and Environment. His life load is even more impressive. If John-Boy Walton came to life as a quarterback, he would wear No. 11 and play for Plant. He goes to church. He is all about the team. He loves his family. He works at his craft. He is unfailingly polite. He would rather talk about his teammates, friends, or just about anyone besides himself. His sister, Stephanie, is a freshman quarterback for Plant's flag football team. Aaron gives her passing tips. And, oh, he broke the state passing record last season - his first as a starting quarterback. His coach, Robert Weiner, said he has looked for a chink in Murray's armor. "I haven't found it," he said. A football hero is sometimes magnified beyond reason on a school's campus, and a kid's head could certainly inflate past the bursting point given the abnormal attention that goes along with a day like this. This kid is different, though. This kid gets it. "Here's one man you should want to cheer for," Weiner said. You'll have to get in line, though. It forms behind his family. "Aaron has always been my role model," Stephanie said. She means it. The love she feels for her big brother showed in her eyes and voice when she talked about the papers she wrote about him for school classes, or how, on Wednesday night, she went to his room and they sat and talked for a long time about what life might have in store for them both. "No matter what he does, he'll be very successful," she said. At some point, watching all this, you think, is this kid for real? Thankfully, the answer is yes. A Gut Decision Murray fell in love with Georgia basically the first time he went there. He hit it off with Coach Mark Richt right away, and it was more than just football that brought them together. They talked about faith. They talked about life. "That was huge to me," he said. He kept hearing from all these other schools. There's a giant storage bin at the house filled with letters - some of which were never opened. The letters were stacked neatly in the bin until there were so many that they wouldn't fit. The rest were just piled on top. UCLA and Florida were the other finalists. Aaron and his father wrote down the plusses and minuses of each place. It kept coming back to Georgia. That's where Aaron's heart told him to go. About three weeks ago, he locked in. "It was a gut decision," he said. It was a well-kept secret. Only the family and Weiner knew beforehand. The family wasn't talking, and Weiner was sworn "to a blood oath" not to tell. One look in Aaron's eyes told you this was the right call. This is the story of one kid's decision about where to go to college. We write about it because he plays football, but there is a lot more to him than that. He may have broken some Gators' hearts, but he had to go where his heart said to go. As the song "Georgia On My Mind" sounded through the Plant High field house - Weiner doesn't miss much - things seemed right. That may bring a tear to a Gator's eye, but mom has extra tissue if they need it.
It's one of those things that is popular to say. Kind of like "liberal". You can blame almost everything on Saban and people will pretty much just nod their head in agreement. Whether true or not. I'm still no great fan of Saban. He does not have the type of personality that I appreciate,but if he can win, and at least have the team demonstrate some class (even if he can't), and if he can do it within the rules and keep those idiots at the NCAA away, then I will be willing to put up his smartass attitude. Winning is not everything but it does make up for a lot of personality flaws! 8)
I didn't like Saban when he was at MSU. He had a brash attitude, and there were things he said that IMO showed a lack of respect for ND as an opponent. He seems to always put himself in a position to not be liked for one reason or another, and he deserves it. BUT......if he was the coach of my team I would be very happy......and I'd learn to like him. If he is nothing else, in college football he is a proven winner, and like him or not, I've seen no evidence that he does not do it the right way.
How quickly we forget! It wasn't that long ago that Saban was doing something very similar to what Bobby Petrino just got crucified by the media for. He's certainly untrustworthy as he blatantly lied repeatedly about taking the Bama job. Brashness, untrustworthiness, rudeness, and lots of other things you can say about Saban all add up to dirty but that's just my opinion. He really rubs me the wrong way. I guess Bama fans are willing to look over all of those unlikeable qualities he brings if he also brings W's though and that's fine. Like I said, he's a tremendous college football coach. He just gives off a slimy vibe, IMO.
Ha! Aquila, let's ask Johnny Majors about Fulmer! :? Forget I said that, I don't give a ^&*$ about your coach and that doesn't matter a bit because he is your coach not mine. I don't care too much for Saban's demeanor either but slimey? Like you said JYO.
Fulmer gives off a dirty kind of vibe sometimes too, I admit that. However, he at least makes an attempt at being likeable which is more than I can say for Saban. I'm not questioning Saban's integrity and I admit that if Bama was offering me a chance to get out of a no-win situation in Miami with the Dolphins while offering me millions, I'd probably have bolted too. However, I don't think I would have repeatedly blatantly lied about it. He had his reasons I'm sure for doing so. I still can't see how anyone could trust him and slimy is a matter of opinion but that's just the vibe I get from him when I listen to him speak. I'm not trying to attack you or the Bama program because, like I said, he's a tremendous college football coach and he'll bring Bama a lot of wins in the SEC and over Tenn. I'm sure. That's not my problem with him. I just don't think I would ever be friends with the guy, that's all.