Have Georgia and Alabama lost their “wow” factor?
Chad Brown discusses the factors he believes are responsible for the decline in dominance we typically see in Georgia and Alabama.
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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA — There was no official word on whether Nick Saban will return as Alabama football coach after his team's 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Monday.
But Terry Saban, the 72-year-old coach's wife, revealed her husband's more immediate plans: to watch a movie on Netflix instead of watching Texas play Washington in the second semifinal game of the College Football Playoff later that evening.
Terry Saban greeted her husband with a hug and a few pats on the back after he finished his postgame press conference. They spoke too quietly to be heard, but Terry Saban told USA TODAY Sports how their conversation went:
Terry Saban: “Do you want to see the other football game?”
Nick Saban: “Not really.”
Terry Saban: “OK, let’s watch Netflix.”
Terry Saban explained that she and Nick were watching a foreign film. “It’s Turkish or something,” she said, adding that it would be helpful for her husband to have to read the subtitles.
“It completely takes your mind off the defeat,” she said.
She spoke to USA TODAY Sports while standing with a small group of people near the large tent where Nick Saban conducted his postgame interview. He did not comment on his plans for next season.
When USA TODAY Sports asked Terry Saban if her husband would continue coaching, a young woman interjected.
“We’re not answering questions like that right now,” she said.
When asked if her husband was okay after the loss, Terry replied: “After 52 years, we've been through this before, haven't we?” And you try to find the silver lining to teach other players for next time.”
What Saban said about the final play call
Nick Saban stated that the final play command of the Alabama season came from his first-year offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees. It won't go down as one of the favorites in Alabama football history.
With Alabama facing a fourth-and-goal at Michigan's 3-yard line in overtime, quarterback Jalen Milroe took the snap and ran up the middle. He gained one yard before Michigan defenders made a tackle, ending the game.
Michigan called a timeout and then Alabama called before the game was underway.
“We called three plays,” Saban said. “One they called a timeout, one we called a timeout, and the last one didn’t work. The fact that it didn't work made it a really bad decision. You know what I mean?
“But we took a timeout because we looked bad. We took a good look at the first one. They must have known.”
Regardless, according to Saban, Rees wanted the ball in MIlroe's hands.
“…Tommy just felt like the best thing we could do was a quarterback run, which was kind of our two-point play, one of our two-point plays for that game,” he said.
What's with the bad snapshots?
Milroe and center Seth McLaughlin have had nearly four months to sort out the quarterback-center replacement issues that have plagued them since the start of the season. No luck.
With Milroe operating largely from shotgun formation, McLaughin fired several shots off target.
There were two consecutive plays early in the third quarter, and the second resulted in a sack and a loss of 6 yards.
Milroe, asked about the topic after the game, said: “The quarterback and the center have to have a great relationship, and that's what we've been trying to build all season.” There are a variety of things that me and Seth talk about speak in this regard. That’s what we’re talking about.”
McLaughlin, a senior, took over as the team's starting center midway through the 2022 season.
Saban raves about the team's turnaround
Yes, Saban admitted, he was disappointed with the loss.
“But one thing I told them in the locker room after the game: This is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history, considering where this team comes from,” he said, “what they were able to accomplish.” “What “They managed to win the SEC Championship and I’m really, really proud of this group.”
Alabama's season appeared to be on the verge of ending after a 34-24 loss to Texas in the second week of the season and a boring 21-7 win over South Florida in the third week of the season. But the Crimson Tide changed the course of their season during an 11-game winning streak that culminated with a victory over Georgia in the SEC championship game.
“As a coach, you're always trying to get your team to improve and do their best, and I think this team has probably improved as much as any team from playing South Florida and Texas earlier in the season. “ “I’ve ever coached,” Saban said.
“It takes a lot of hard work. A lot of people are very committed to doing the things they need to do to self-assess and improve their game, and all of these players have joined this team and done it in a first-class way.
“So I think for me as a coach, maybe not for everyone else, it is one of the teams that I will always remember most and that I will always be most proud of.”