Interesting back story on Nick and Jimbo's relationship... Apparently some who know them both felt this confrontation was likely long overdue...
Highlights:
-It often felt to some observers that there were two groups at SEC coaches meetings — the Nick Saban guys and the others.
“Everybody’s kissing Saban’s *** like a big fraternity,” said one former SEC coach. “In the breaks (between meetings), all the Saban people are laughing and joking like they were brothers.”
Many believed that Jimbo Fisher and Saban had that sort of dynamic, the master and apprentice who worked together to build LSU into a national champion in 2003, before Fisher went on to win a championship as head coach at Florida State 10 years later and become one of the highest-paid coaches in the game. From the outside, there appeared to be a healthy dynamic between two powerful college football elder statesmen.
-“There was (friction) all the time,” said one staffer who worked with both coaches at LSU. “Will (Muschamp) and Kirby (Smart) and all the defensive guys all bowed down to Nick, but Nick depended on Jimbo a lot. But Nick is so hard on his (offensive coordinators). They were always at each other’s throats.”
-“Oh, it ain’t like Nick and Kirby,” one former LSU position coach said. “There is no love lost between Nick and Jimbo — at all.”
-Saban is a man built on process and details. And some of those didn’t sit quite right with Fisher. “Jimbo complained about everything Nick wanted to do,” said one staffer.
“Jimbo would complain about things Nick would say or do and always talk about the Bowdens,” another staffer said. “Jimbo was big on the Bowdens, and he just couldn’t stand what Nick was trying to do.”
-The tension between the two stemmed from Fisher’s belief that Saban’s philosophy limited his offense. Saban is also a notoriously demanding boss.
Saban spent all day scripting the practice and then gave Fisher 10 minutes to script 80 plays. Fisher had to give the offensive script to Saban and then the defense got to run the entire series knowing the offense’s script. Whenever it would be offense versus defense, Fisher did everything in his power to win. He’d draw up trick plays or adjust outside of the purpose of the drill.
“Jimbo would try to pencil-whip Nick to win the drill,” a staffer said. “And Nick would say, ‘That’s not what it’s about. We’re trying to get better getting ready for an opponent. That’s not how they’re gonna do it in a game.’”
- Saban’s offensive philosophy in those days was about shrinking the game, reducing mistakes and allowing his defense to win it. And Saban likes to manage every little detail. They’d often agree on the amount of snaps for a certain formation or a certain amount of runs, and sometimes Fisher would stray from that. The problem was Saban could remember exactly what they were supposed to do.
“Jimbo wanted to run all these fancy plays,” a staffer said. “Jimbo is an ‘offensive guru.’ … He wanted to showcase his playbook, and that was the biggest argument between those two.”
- When asking former staffers what Fisher was referencing when he said in Thursday’s rant, “Just go ask the people that work for him; you’ll know exactly what he’s about,” many say he was referring to the demanding lifestyle of working for Saban.
Assistants had to be there before Saban and were expected to be there until after he was gone. It was a constant grind of recruiting and coaching, and then they’d sit in the film room after practice as Saban listed all the things that could be corrected or improved upon. One assistant coach said his son played high school football in Baton Rouge and he saw him play a total of one and a half games.
“Everybody has a tremendous amount of respect for him, but that’s why most guys can’t work for him more than two years,” the coach said. “They all say that **** about, ‘He wants you to only work two years.’ Bull****. That’s about all you can take.”
The shock at the Wednesday-Thursday exchange between the two exists on both sides. Some were frustrated with Saban. “Glass houses,” one coach said. “Don’t throw rocks.” Another said: “C’mon guys. It’s like the mafia. Don’t go out there and talk about it. And he was wrong for making those broad-stroke accusations.”
Others were annoyed by Fisher’s emotional rebuttal. “It’s just Jimbo being Jimbo,” a former coach said. Another said: “It was all so predictable. He just couldn’t let it go and think like, ‘Ha ha, ***** him. I got his ***.’
The biggest question remains "Why did Saban feel compelled to make those comments?" Multiple sources told The Athletic they think Saban was making excuses for being beat in recruiting.
Seems like the overall feeling is “Some things are just better left unsaid.”
This is outstanding, siap
I missed the fireworks...
Did someone go speak to a manager?
Just asking....
And passing thru...
Interesting back story on Nick and Jimbo's relationship... Apparently some who know them both felt this confrontation was likely long overdue...
Highlights:
-It often felt to some observers that there were two groups at SEC coaches meetings — the Nick Saban guys and the others.
“Everybody’s kissing Saban’s *** like a big fraternity,” said one former SEC coach. “In the breaks (between meetings), all the Saban people are laughing and joking like they were brothers.”
Many believed that Jimbo Fisher and Saban had that sort of dynamic, the master and apprentice who worked together to build LSU into a national champion in 2003, before Fisher went on to win a championship as head coach at Florida State 10 years later and become one of the highest-paid coaches in the game. From the outside, there appeared to be a healthy dynamic between two powerful college football elder statesmen.
-“There was (friction) all the time,” said one staffer who worked with both coaches at LSU. “Will (Muschamp) and Kirby (Smart) and all the defensive guys all bowed down to Nick, but Nick depended on Jimbo a lot. But Nick is so hard on his (offensive coordinators). They were always at each other’s throats.”
-“Oh, it ain’t like Nick and Kirby,” one former LSU position coach said. “There is no love lost between Nick and Jimbo — at all.”
-Saban is a man built on process and details. And some of those didn’t sit quite right with Fisher. “Jimbo complained about everything Nick wanted to do,” said one staffer.
“Jimbo would complain about things Nick would say or do and always talk about the Bowdens,” another staffer said. “Jimbo was big on the Bowdens, and he just couldn’t stand what Nick was trying to do.”
-The tension between the two stemmed from Fisher’s belief that Saban’s philosophy limited his offense. Saban is also a notoriously demanding boss.
Saban spent all day scripting the practice and then gave Fisher 10 minutes to script 80 plays. Fisher had to give the offensive script to Saban and then the defense got to run the entire series knowing the offense’s script. Whenever it would be offense versus defense, Fisher did everything in his power to win. He’d draw up trick plays or adjust outside of the purpose of the drill.
“Jimbo would try to pencil-whip Nick to win the drill,” a staffer said. “And Nick would say, ‘That’s not what it’s about. We’re trying to get better getting ready for an opponent. That’s not how they’re gonna do it in a game.’”
- Saban’s offensive philosophy in those days was about shrinking the game, reducing mistakes and allowing his defense to win it. And Saban likes to manage every little detail. They’d often agree on the amount of snaps for a certain formation or a certain amount of runs, and sometimes Fisher would stray from that. The problem was Saban could remember exactly what they were supposed to do.
“Jimbo wanted to run all these fancy plays,” a staffer said. “Jimbo is an ‘offensive guru.’ … He wanted to showcase his playbook, and that was the biggest argument between those two.”
- When asking former staffers what Fisher was referencing when he said in Thursday’s rant, “Just go ask the people that work for him; you’ll know exactly what he’s about,” many say he was referring to the demanding lifestyle of working for Saban.
Assistants had to be there before Saban and were expected to be there until after he was gone. It was a constant grind of recruiting and coaching, and then they’d sit in the film room after practice as Saban listed all the things that could be corrected or improved upon. One assistant coach said his son played high school football in Baton Rouge and he saw him play a total of one and a half games.
“Everybody has a tremendous amount of respect for him, but that’s why most guys can’t work for him more than two years,” the coach said. “They all say that **** about, ‘He wants you to only work two years.’ Bull****. That’s about all you can take.”
The shock at the Wednesday-Thursday exchange between the two exists on both sides. Some were frustrated with Saban. “Glass houses,” one coach said. “Don’t throw rocks.” Another said: “C’mon guys. It’s like the mafia. Don’t go out there and talk about it. And he was wrong for making those broad-stroke accusations.”
Others were annoyed by Fisher’s emotional rebuttal. “It’s just Jimbo being Jimbo,” a former coach said. Another said: “It was all so predictable. He just couldn’t let it go and think like, ‘Ha ha, ***** him. I got his ***.’
The biggest question remains "Why did Saban feel compelled to make those comments?" Multiple sources told The Athletic they think Saban was making excuses for being beat in recruiting.
Seems like the overall feeling is “Some things are just better left unsaid.”
I just want to be free to express myself artistically much like @Baba Yaga and his booty gifs and @PIPO and his showdowns.
This is outstanding, siap
Saybot had to get on the radio and clarify his statements because what he said was untrue and hearsay. His comments backfired and he got a slap on the hand by the $EC illumin@ti to clarify.
It's absolutely beautiful that the NCAA can't do anything about this and it's eating the $EC slurpers alive
Saban is ****ed for a few reasons...I feel like in a week the media and SEC will bury all of this.
Which is bull****. I need more beans spilled
Karen called the REGIONAL manager.
Also writing a strongly worded letter to the CEO.
Heads will roll!!
What exactly does that guy do for Saban? I get that he is a bagman, I guess you mean he is the guy that literally hands the bags to the kids? Is he a HS coach in LA or something?That’s Vince. And if there’s a college football hall of fame, he better be in it before Saban. He’s been (EDIT: was) Nick Saban’s bagman for over 20 years.