Nick Saban | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #689

He's probably the greatest college. football coach of all time. And I know. he didn't like hearing me say probably. right there. His run at the University. of Alabama will never be matched, I. would guess. Uh he's had seven national. championships. What he's done is. unprecedented. And he has a new. documentary out this week on ESPN. It's. called Sabin. I suggest that you enjoy. that. I am grateful for his time. Um, truly it was an honor. Today's guest is.

Nick Sabin. >> And I will find a song. >> Yeah. Just one of those days. Sometimes. I have those days where you're just. like, how am I going to get it all done? You ever have days like that? >> Oh, yeah. Today's one of them. has it. been? And did you have to regroup a. little or like what do you do like in a.

moment like that? Because I'm sure. you've had them like at like kind of. intense levels and then just at like. regular day-to-day levels. Sometimes I'm. just like there's not a breath deep. enough I can take. Sometimes it feels. like, >> but you know, I'm so used to grinding. through it, coaching 14 hours a day, one. problem after the next, one solution. after the next. I I can usually sort of. grind through it. What I don't do very. well at is having nothing to do. You. know that that that after being so busy.

for so long. I mean, now when I don't. have anything to do, I'm like like my. wife, she didn't she she she playing. golf today? I [laughter] mean, get out. of here. >> She's like, "We're going to build a. course in the backyard if we have to.". >> I go to church on Sunday morning and. then she says, "Well, you're going to. play golf afterwards, right? [laughter]. I don't want to see you till 2:30.". >> Yes. I guess it's kind of new for her. that now you're home, right? >> That's right. I came home one day at. 3:00. She said, "What are you doing. here?" [laughter]. >> Where did uh where did you meet Miss.

Terry at? >> Seventh grade science camp. >> We went to different schools in West. Virginia. She went kind of the city. school and I went to the country school. and um but we met at science camp. Now, we lived about 10 miles apart, but. that's like worlds apart, you know, back. in those days. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh, yeah. But, so we always liked each. other, but I could never see her. And it. wasn't until I was a senior, she was a. junior, that we started dating. So, um,

so there would be 55 years in December. we've been married. >> And how did uh, Congratulations. [laughter]. >> It's been fun. >> That's cool. No, it's great to hear. that. Um, how did you propose to her? Uh, I think over the phone if I remember. right. >> What? Like a recruiting call? >> No, I mean I was at Kent State. She was. back home going to Fairmont State and we. talked on the phone. But, you know, in. those days, I mean, you know, it was.

expensive, you know, to talk on the. phone. So, we'd have these short. conversations maybe once a week or. whatever. >> [snorts]. >> and um she came to visit during the. season when I was playing and kind of. talked about it then. But. >> did she ever make you get down on like. did she ever make you go through kind of. the formal. >> No, not really. >> Wow. >> And then we had our honeymoon in. Wheeling at the Wheeling Holiday Inn. Uh. >> did you really? >> Oh yeah. And went to Big Boy, you know, with the strawberry pie.

>> Yeah, that was great. [laughter]. >> That was where your honeymoon was? >> That was it. >> Oh, that's pretty cool. I will tell you. this. I had a show in Pittsburgh one. time and I had a couple ladies offer me. the wheeling feeling after the show. [laughter] I didn't get any of it. But. >> yeah, that's that's not one of the most. accommodating places to visit. >> Yeah. Yeah. I've I've had some good. times. I did a show at the Big Sandy. there in Huntington, which was really. cool. I did a show one weekend when the.

the guy. >> readme remember they made that movie. about um the plane that crashed from. Marshall. Oh yeah. >> You know that it was just that horrific. tragedy that happened there within that. community and they the guy who didn't. take the plane. The coach's name was Red. something. He was speaking at the hotel. that I was staying at. >> that day. It was just. >> I remember that story. Well, you know, ironically, I was playing at Kent State. at the time and we played them at. Marshall several weeks before that. actually happened.

>> Really? >> It was really interesting and they had. pretty good pretty good team. Yeah, it. was. >> So, that was the same same season that. you were playing. One of their the team. just was gone. >> Yeah. Gone. >> Wow. >> Crazy. >> That's pretty devastating. There it is. right there. William Alfred Red Dawson. was the Marshall assistant coach who did. not. >> Red Dawson. >> uh pass away in the 1970 plane crash. because he was away on a recruiting trip. and drove back instead of flying. That's. right. Um. >> yeah, I've never I haven't spent a ton. of time up there, but it's it's always.

nice when I when I do. Um, did you guys. take a lot of family vacations and stuff. when you whenever you were growing up up. there? >> No, not really. I mean, it was. work, work, work. You know, my dad had a. service station, never wanted to leave, and I worked in it from the time I was. 11 years old. So, um, we never did. I. Terry and I always tried to do that, you. know, once we got established. And, you. know, Myrtle Beach was the spot. It was.

like going to the French Riviera when. you're from West Virginia. So, um, >> we we we [laughter]. went there quite a few times. Driving. drive down eight hours. >> Oh, yeah. There you go. Look at you. right there, Nick and Terry. >> That's it, baby. >> That's magic, baby. Um, whenever you. guys got married, did you have like a. wedding song or anything like that? Like, do you have like a. >> Yeah, but I wish you wouldn't ask me. those kind of things. I'm supposed to. know that I don't really remember. [laughter].

Okay, we'll edit in a good answer. Okay. Yeah, I won't say a word, man. I'm quiet. on the creek over here, man. I got. nothing for you. Um, well, how about. this then? Is there a gift that she got. you like an anniversary gift over the. years? Um, one that you really kind of. prize that she gave you. >> That comes to mind. >> That comes to mind. you know, we we enjoy being together so much and.

like we're best friends. She's always. been so supportive and helpful in. everything that we've done that, you. know, it seems like those kind of things. are a little bit second nature. >> Um, you know, she's always told me what. I needed to hear, not what I wanted to. hear, and has been very helpful, you. know, in my development. I mean, when I. was uh in college, I couldn't get up in. front of a group and speak and she was a. speech English major, debate team. I've.

lost a few of those through the years, you know, the arguments, but um she. really was helpful to helping me. develop, you know, confidence in, um. public appearances and that type of. thing. So, um, she's just been so. supportive, was a great recruiter, you. know, great relationships with people. Um, so I don't remember very many gifts, you know, most of the time I'm given the. gifts, >> you know, not getting them. [laughter].

So, >> yeah, I think dads are just hard to shop. for, too. But, I guess I'm hearing you. say that she's just it's just kind of. the eternal gift of you guys' connection. has always been uh the bigger value of. anything that you that you could just. kind of get somewhere. That's right. Yeah. >> Um, is there a specific moment that. comes to mind that she uh that she was. really there when you when it was like a. space where you couldn't figure. something out? >> Oh, yeah. There's a lot of those. You. know, I I think that, you know, especially once you get to be a head. coach,

who do you talk to? You know, your. assistants are kind of your second. lieutenants working for you. And when. you have issues and problems, yeah, they. can input certain things, but certain. big decisions. >> you sort of have to make on your own. >> Yeah. >> And so, who do you have out there that. you can go talk to? And you know, that's. one thing that Miss Terry was always. someone that I could talk to about an. issue or a problem. And it's interesting. sometimes that the outside perspective. is.

a little different than your perception. of what it might be. And that's very. very helpful. >> because even though she's your wife, she's still it's she's not locked in it. like you are, >> right? >> Yeah, that's a good point. A head. coaching it kind of seems kind of. lonely. >> It is. It can be. It is. And I was. fortunate through the years to have, you. know, he's in the documentary. Dr. Rosen. was always a uh someone that I could. talk to about, you know, psychological. disposition and how to try to, you know,

motivate certain types of people and. players. And he and Miss Terry were. probably the two people that had the. biggest impact on me and the direction I. was always trying to head in and how. they reinforced it. >> It it it seems like from an outsers's. perspective that you've had like an. amazing life, right? Um, do you feel. like you've lived up to your potential? Like, do you feel like that? >> Well, you know, I sort of look at it a.

little different. I mean, is winning. games, is that really what your life's. potential is? Or is it. >> And it's not a judgment. I'm just. genuinely curious like. >> No, no. I But but compassion for other. people, helping other people. Uh, could. we do more? Like we have a Nicks Kids. Foundation. Could we be doing more to. help other people? Have I helped our. family enough? Have I been a good. parent? You know, when you talk about. all those things, not how many games you. won, you always think that, hell,

there's a lot of things I could have. done better. And um that's what I sort. of constantly try to be a better person, set a better example for people, be a. better leader, help people create value. for themselves, show people that you. care about them. I mean all those things. are really really important to me. because my goal as a coach was always. how can I help these guys have a better. chance to be more successful in life. So. it was a lot of personal development. importance of getting an education how.

do you develop the habits on the field. to reach your full potential. So that's. where, you know, I spent most of my. time. But now not coaching, I still look. at other people and how can we impact. the future and, you know, we're just. like we're building a Sabin Center, which is a you know, um, you know, student center for young kids. growing up. It's going to be our legacy, you know, in Tuscaloosa. So uh, how can. we impact education and career. development and young people? So all.

those things, could you have done those better? I. think I probably could have and we'll. continue to try to do it the rest of my. life. >> Do you feel like you've been kind of. like a perfectionist? I know that's just. a word that people throw around like do. you feel like you're a perfectionist. kind of? >> Yeah. >> It's not a judgment of you, Nick. >> No, I I do. >> Just curious about because I want to. explore that because there's not a lot. of people you can explore kind of that. term with sometimes. Yeah. >> So that's why I'm asking. But but I. think that you know and this is kind of.

in a documentary but um you know when I. was a kid growing up having compassion. for other people was really important. Accountability was really important. In. other words, if you had a job to do and. you didn't do it exactly right, you're. going to do it over again. So you learn. how to be accountable. But one thing. that you know my parents always. emphasized is it wasn't about winning or. beating the other guy. It was about. did you do it as well as you were. capable of doing it. So, I mean, we won. 30 games in a row when I was in high.

school or something like that and won a. state championship and that was never. good enough. And I asked my mom once, why is it never good enough? And she. said, it's not about winning the game. It's not about beating the other guy. It's about did you do it as well as. you're capable of doing it. So, that. that's makes you kind of a. perfectionist, >> right? Because the competition is always. you. >> It's always you. And the other thing. that that instilled in me was I never. had what I call relief syndrome, which. is, you know, it's kind of human nature.

is if you do something of significance, you think you're supposed to be able to. rest on your laurels. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You know, and we kind of promote. that in society. We promote it in. business. Um even players, you know, they would we'd win a big game and. they'd say, "Can we have Monday off. practice? We get rewarded for winning this big. game." Well, I'm thinking about how we. going to win the next game, right? >> And did we play well enough in that game. to win the next game and what do we need. to improve on? So, I I never ever.

developed that. rest on your laurels because I was never. allowed to. And it goes back to that. word that you're talking about. You can. never be perfect, but you're always. trying to close the gap on perfect. And. I think great competitors, whether it's. Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, you know, Michael Jordan, you know, those guys. could always take the next challenge, man. It didn't m how how much they won. or what they did. And uh that's how I. wanted our teams to be able to compete.

And I felt like I had to set that. example. So if I'm satisfied and I'm. thinking everything's good, we don't. have to focus on attention to detail and. prepare for this game the right way. And. you know, there was actually two times. at Alabama we won 19 games in a row. And. we lost the 20th game. And we didn't. play very well in either one of those. games. Not to take anything away from. who beat us, >> but and it was all because of. complacency, blatant disregard for doing. what's right. You're complacent.

>> and then you start developing bad habits. and it starts showing up in your. performance. So I spent a lifetime. trying to avoid that and never got it. done. Not the way. won 19 in games in a row twice and. couldn't keep it going. >> I mean, some would describe that as. keeping it going though, you know. So, but I understand I understand what. you're saying. Do you think it's tough. for you to feel success kind of I I know. it's kind of a similar question, but um. I always have a tough time feeling a.

success. I feel like a per like a. perfectionist. Um or I feel like I am a. lot of times like um I know this haircut. doesn't really say that, but uh what's. under it does though. And I feel like. that a lot of times and sometimes I just. feel like it's hard for me to have fun. sometimes because perfection doesn't. really allow a lot of space for fun, you. know? There's just not a lot of room for. it. >> Well, but I don't think I had a lot of. fun, you know, because the fun of it is. winning. That's the fun. Getting ready. and doing all the things it takes to win.

is not that much fun. >> Yeah. But to your point, when you think. like you think and like I think and you. are as successful as you are because of. the way you think incidentally, success. is not a continuum. It's momentary. And. if there's anything that you've done in. the past that you think is going to. impact your the future, you're infected. with success. You know, I mean, you want. to be a flash in a pan and say, "I can. do something exceptional once, but have.

no conception of how to do it on a. consistent basis.". >> So, I always define consistency for our. players. >> Consistency, success is consistency and performance. >> And that's what I wanted our players to. think. You know, a great example of that. is we won the first national. championship at Alabama in 2009. We won. the Rose Bowl beat Texas. Everybody's. excited. Everybody's celebrating. We. have this big celebration in the stadium. and I don't know how many people were. there. It's pretty full. And I get up.

and I said, "This is not the end. This. is the beginning.". >> And I was sending a message. You know, we created a new horizon, a new. expectation, >> right? >> So, we got to look ahead to what we have. to do to continue to get better. It's. like climbing a mountain. You know, once. you climb the mountain successfully, you. become the mountain. So, everybody's. shooting at you. How did you do it? What. do we need to do to change? How are we. going to beat those guys? Well, if you. don't keep improving, it's not going to. happen. I mean, they're going to get.

you. They're going to get you. So, and. that's hard to get people to understand. But you understand it. And that's why. you don't have so much fun. I didn't. have that much fun for 50 years. I. didn't have that much fun. I enjoyed. winning. Mhm. >> Uh I hated losing more than I liked. winning. So I was always trying to avoid. >> the setbacks. >> Yeah. >> And looking forward to what I had to do. and have the foresight to know what we. had to do to be successful in the.

future. >> Yeah. It's interesting because yeah, once you find success one way, other. people are going to gravitate towards it. or you've already done it. So you also. need to set a new challenge for. yourself. But then what's interesting. about you is to go inside of what you'd. already done and kind of look at the. pieces of it and be like, "What worked. really well here? What can still evolve. and what can be different?" That's an. intense level of scrutiny, I think. >> Well, but to me, there's two parts to. that. First of all, we changed how we.

played football through the years. We. changed the way we played offense. We. used to run the ball and play good. defense. We won championships doing. that. Then we went to the spread. We. went to no huddle. We went fast through. RPOS's and all that stuff, which is with. the rule changes. That was what you. needed to do. Well, we didn't play as. good on defense cuz we played a lot more. plays and the other team scored more. points, but we scored more points, too. So, we technically changed how we played. the game to take advantage of rule.

changes. >> Got it. >> But we never changed the culture of what. it took to be successful. the. togetherness as a team, positive energy, positive attitude, accountability, be. responsible to do your job, >> what do you have to do to dominate the. competition? That never changed. That. never changed. And um but football, the. technical parts of it sometimes changed. >> Was there uh like I'm trying to think. about like having fun like like you have.

you ever been on a water slide or. anything like that? >> Oh, yeah. >> You have? >> Oh, I know how to do all that now. I got. thrown out of the water slides most of. the time. Did you? >> We used to go on Senator Mansion, you. know, who was the US Senator from West. Virginia. >> Senator Mansion. Yeah. Yeah. He's in. your documentary. >> Yeah. So, yeah. Well, we used to go on. vacation. We both went to Myrtle Beach. But we never ever made it through a. summer without kick getting kicked out. of the water slides. >> What were y'all doing on there? >> You know, doubles and triples and. running over people.

>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Sometimes we'd get there. early and just run down it. like they. had one kind of bus and it was it was a. water slide but it was almost not going. to be like at any moment you know and uh. it was just like a tetanus shot like it. it was kind of a safety hazard I think. but um but we would get there early and. run down it right before they started. the water and that was always a good. time and I was just curious if you're. able to also have like other types of. fun outside of um outside of football. and what that's like for you. >> I think that's the one thing that I. learned through the years I think there.

was in a time when I was an assistant. coach coach when I I didn't do that very. well. Um, you know, it was work, work, work, work work. Uh, take your work. home, never ever be able to separate. But when I became a head coach, I. learned how to do that because it was. just too stressful to um carry it with. you all the time. And I had to set some. parameters and say, "Okay, at 10:00 at.

night, I'm going home. I'm not working. past 10:00 so I can get enough rest. because if I don't rest, I'm not going. to have the patience to do a good job. the next day. >> Yeah. >> So, there was some of these kinds of. built-in things that I had to and then I. make myself go on vacation for 3 weeks. in the summer. >> And you have to make yourself do those. things. >> Yeah. Hey, and and bought a lakehouse so. I could spend three weeks with the kids. and you know, so things like that. I. kind of had to learn how to do that. because I was so committed it was not.

healthy. >> Did it ever actually affect your health? Like some of that stress cuz I mean you. were like I mean watching you like. especially like in your documentary it's. pretty great to see like all these. different and they compile them all and. make you seem kind of crazy for a little. while and you may have been. I don't. know. That's fine. I think you got to be. a little bit crazy and hopefully we all. were a little crazy at some point in our. lives, you know, but um you can. definitely you feel the intensity of you. a lot of times. I mean you I mean even. not and it's some of the footage is. older. It's not even high deaf and.

you're like you can still feel the. intensity coming through the screen. [laughter]. >> But you got to understand that. >> in a competitive environment I was. trying to show intensity. >> Ah. >> does that make sense? >> Yeah 100%. I mean, I I don't think I was. ever. I mean, you want players to play with. emotion, have intensity, but you don't. want them to be emotional. So, most of. those times when I look crazy, I really. wasn't being emotional. I knew exactly.

what I was doing, but I was trying to. affect other people. >> Wow. Chess. That's chess, Nick. [laughter]. Um, that's incredible then cuz yeah, it. affected me the other night at home um. just watching it. But did did did it. ever affect your health? Did it ever. become like a health scare for you? >> No, never did. But I always got a. physical. You know, one of the things. when I was in the NFL, they always make. you get a physical before the season. just like the players. So, I continued. that in college. And um you know, several of our coaches had issues that.

assistants too that um you know, created. a better quality of life for them and. saved their life in some cases. So, I. always did that. Um, but. when I retired, and I don't know if I. ever shared this with anybody, I spent 50 years of my life being in a. hurry and didn't know it. >> So, I retired and the cars are backed up.

on the bridge and it goes down to one. lane. And in the old days, I would be. the guy that passed all the cars up and. cut in at the last minute in front of. somebody. And I sat there with Miss Terry in the. car. She says, "You mean you're not. going to pass everybody illegally and. cut in?" I said, "We're not in a hurry.". But it's the first time when I retired. that I realized that I wasn't in a. hurry. And I was in a hurry for 50 years. and didn't know it. Wow.

>> Cuz I was always hurrying up to the next. thing. Yeah. solve the next problem, go. to the next thing. I mean, and it's. great. And you talk about relieving. stress. That relieves stress better than. anything. >> And that was just the thing you noticed. one day. You just noticed that. >> I just noticed it in that circumstance, right? >> Not cutting into traffic and waiting my. turn, >> right? >> Yes. Sometimes we need proof from like. our own actions and it'll almost. surprise us. Like I've realized one day. that I was like I felt like there's been. a to-do list since I was born and I.

don't know who wrote it or started it or. how it ever began but I always feel like. I'm running behind. Like it's been an. eternal feeling that I've had. >> And I've always had the feeling that I. wanted to get everything that I needed. to get done. before I could relax. >> Yeah. And there's And it's never all. done. >> It's never all done. >> Yeah, [laughter]. I know what you mean. I know, man. I'm. 46. I'm like, when is where is the end. of this list? [laughter]. >> It's got and who wrote it? I didn't even. put it together. I don't feel like.

prize picks is America's number one. sports pick app. The app is really easy. to use. That's why I like it. For. players picks, just pick more or less on. a few players stats and lock in your. lineup. That's it. Rather just pick. teams? Prize Picks has that now too. Just pick the winner, spread, or total. on any game or fight. And with football. season here, there's no better time to. get in on the action. Make a football.

lineup or just pick the winner of the. game and keep it simple. For this. Saturday's UCLA vers, Oregon game, I'm. going with. the Ducks. Prize picks is available in most. [clears throat] states, including. California, Texas, and Florida. Plus, you can even follow me on the app at the. ovon. Tail my picks with one click and. follow your friends, too. Best of all, play your first $5 and get $150 in.

lineups if you win. Just use code TPW. when you sign up. That's right, Prize. Picks just switched up their offer, so. there's no better time to join. Lock in. and win that first lineup. That's code. TPW at sign up to get $150 in bonus. lineups if you win your first $5 plus. lineup. Prize picks code TPW. Play. responsibly. There's a lot of fall.

moments I wish I had more of. I remember. one time they had a big pile of leaves. out there by the apartments and we all. got all ready and we put some eye black. on our eyes and you know some of us had. pads on and everything and we just ran. and jumped into the leaves and they had. a guy in there sleeping in there and he. had just been trying to stay warm. But. it's not fall until you get out there. and get some dirt on your boots. And. when you do, grab a pack of Mountain.

Dew. The American original. Born in the. foothills of Tennessee. Mountain Dew was. made for a damn good time outdoors. When you get that Mountain Dew on your. tongue, you just, man, it just reminds. you of taking a hike with your daddy or. with anybody's daddy or just tickling. your cousin or just playing uh Got Your. Nose with the baby. The bold taste you know and love comes.

from American roots. Get out there and. enjoy the outdoors with Mountain Dew, an. American original tasting great since. 48. Look for Mountain Dew in stores near. you. When it comes to coaching, uh, how much. of coaching is knowing football and how. much of coaching is knowing people, do. you feel like? And which took you longer. to learn? >> Probably the knowing people part. You. know, coaching is teaching, teaching is. ability to inspire learning. So.

>> coaching is teaching, teaching is. ability to inspire learning. >> Right. Exactly. So that inspiring the. learning part is the people part and. everybody's a little different in terms. of how they learn and how you need to. approach them to teach them. You know, obsessive compulsive people, they don't need you to get on them. You. know, other guys not a selfarter. You. need to get on them a little bit. So. figuring all that out is important. the.

technical part of teaching and coming up. with a good teaching progression, whether it's how to teach bump and run. or how to take on a block or whatever, that part comes a little easier, but the other part, the human condition. part is much more difficult. >> Did you enjoy that part more? You think. >> I did? Because that was that was a big. interest to me, you know, is what makes. people tick, what what makes people, you. know, do certain things, good and bad.

Yeah. >> Choices and decisions and. impact of all those things. >> Do you think maybe that you just wanted. to find the next thing to figure out? Does that make any sense if I say that? Cuz it's interesting to hear you talk. about so many little facets that could. go into giving yourself the best. possible chance. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I was always trying to. learn. Um I mean even to this day, you. know, I remember my dad saying, "You got. two ears and one mouth. That means you.

should listen twice as much you talk. You probably heard that before. But um. anyway, so I've always been a listener. and uh I always try to learn from other. people and anybody that was doing. something of significance in our. profession or a good book to read about. a successful coach and how he approached. it and all that kind of stuff. I I was. always into that. Always into that. And. we always had people come and visit us. everything we had an issue with, we.

would pay somebody to come and visit us. and teach us how to fix it. >> Oh, like different speakers and um. >> different speakers and some coaches, you. know, like weart had problems with no. huddle. Who's the best defensive people. with no huddle? Guys playing against. Chip Kelly at Oregon. Bring them in and. teach us how do you play against this? How do you get people to adapt to it? Um, so. but you know, we struggled in the Sugar. Bowl and got beat by Utah cuz they. weren't empty the whole game and we.

didn't do a very good job of defending. it. So I just brought Utah staff in and. said, "Okay, you guys run empty. Tell us. what you don't like.". >> Got it. >> What gives you problems? So we were. always looking for a better way. And I. told everybody in the organization, everybody's responsible for a better. way. So, um, >> did you ever feel like cuz ego is like a. scary thing, right? And your name became. I mean you're there are people that. would you know would rather baptize. their kids with you involved somehow it. seems like these days especially in.

Alabama, right? And um and bless him. But how did you how did you keep. yourself from getting too smart to. learn? Does that make any sense? >> Yeah. >> And was it ever a fear of yours like at. a certain point like cuz ego is a unique. thing, right? Sometimes our shadow gets. bigger than us, right? um. >> if the lights hit us the right way. So, it's like did you ever have to deal with. any of that? Just curious because you've. had such a unique journey. >> Well, you know, one of the things I. always did when I went to church is is I. always prayed to be a good person and to.

serve other people. And you know, I ask. the question a lot when I speak. sometimes is how do you pray? Do you. pray to be blessed or do you pray to be. a blessing? where I was praying that I. wanted to continue to be a blessing to. other people, which probably was me. trying to check my own ego and make sure. it didn't get out there to where it was. going to have a negative effect on. things. And I'm sure you could probably. go find a lot of people. I mean, there.

was like 70 people got interviewed or 90. people got interviewed in this. documentary that would say, "Yeah, he. had an ego.". >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> But but I I tried to keep it in check. >> You tried to cap it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, dude. Yeah, because the ego. is such an interesting thing. What if. you had players? How do you curtail. players if they started to get kind of. too big for themselves? Would there. something that you would say like, you. know, because that's a that's a that's a. lot of um that's a lot of energy for a. young person to be taken on when they. don't really even know the effects of.

it. >> Right. Well, I I was always trying to. teach players cause and effect. And um. you know, I would bring every player in. and say, "All right, what do you want to. accomplish here?" And a player would. say, 'I want to graduate and play in the. NFL someday. And then I would say, ' Do. you know what that entails? And he would. say, 'Hard work. And I'd say, 'Well, you. got to do this, this, this, and this, this. I was defining a process of what. they had to do to be successful. And I. wanted them to learn how to self assess. So I'd ask them how they're doing, but.

I'd also go up to them a lot and say, "How's that behavior helping you. accomplish the goals that you have?" M. >> and then they would usually answer well. it's not coach. >> So to help them have an actual thought. process with it, >> right? And I try to make it about them, >> right? >> You know, not about, oh, I don't like it. that you spike the ball. Tell me if. spiking the ball helps you get to the. NFL, >> right? >> Does that help you graduate? I mean, so. I made it about them a lot. And and they. could they related to that. You know,

most people are selfish, self-absorbed, and um ambitious. So appeal to that, >> right? >> You know, I used to tell the players, um, you know, I spent eight years in the. NFL, the two most compelling words in. the draft report is and and but. >> And they would look at me like, that. don't sound right. And I'd say, yeah, they'd read the player, you know, quick. feet, change of direction, good tackler, good hands, play the ball in the deep.

part of the field. talking about a. defensive back now. Yeah. And he's a. good person, you know, he graduated. Coaches loved him. He was captain of the. team. >> Next guy, same guy. Quick feet, change. of direction, good tackle, all that. But. what comes after butt, usually not good. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Wouldn't go to class. Coaches. didn't like him. Watched him practice. Wasn't a good practice player. Yeah. Had. a positive drug test. I mean, whatever. So, who you want on a team? And and but. So, are you making choices and decisions.

that creates value for your future? Because we're trying to provide you with. a direction that's valuebased. Buy into. it and you will create value for your. future. >> You talked a second ago about going to. church and praying. How did you how did. you start a relationship with God? Like, how did that was that instilled with in. you when you were a child? And then how. did you create your own relationship. that was more real in your life if you. did or what was that like? Well,

my grandmother used to take her umbrella. and beat me over the head as we were. going to church. [laughter]. >> I didn't have a choice. >> That's one way to do it. Yeah. [laughter] I mean, I think that's pretty. effective. Your grandma's umbrella will. put the Lord in you. It'll keep your. posture up, too. [laughter]. >> No, but um you know, I I just I don't. know. And I I guess it started because I. felt guilty if I didn't do it.

>> And I think I was made to feel that way. by my family, my grandparents. And um so. it was important to them that we all go. to church and that's the way it started. I can't say I liked it, but I did it. Um. and um then. I got into it and I think there's a lot. that you can learn from, you know, biblical, you know, experiences that. happened in the past and I always try to.

see, you know, is this message helpful. to me? >> Was there a time in your life when you. called on God the most kind of to be. supportive for you or that you really. needed your faith more than you. expected? Well, you know, I usually do. it because um I'm always asking like. what could I do better to be a better. parent? You know, can I be a a good. leader to my children and help them make. choices and decisions that would help. them be successful? And now you have.

grandchildren. So, you know, you're. trying to do the same thing for your. grandchildren. So, it's more about what. could I do to impact other people in a. positive way than really, you know, I don't think God determines. the outcome of a game or anything like. that. So, it was never about all that, but it was always trying to what can I. do better to help people. >> What made you care about people so much, do you think? I mean, I know it's a human thing to do, but.

>> I I I think that it came from coaching. Uh because. my coaches that I had whether in high. school or you know my dad was my pee-wee. coach. My parents were great at this, but beyond my parents, my co the coaches. that I had, Don James in college, um, and my high school coach, that they they. had the greatest impact on me. And I. never really wanted to be a coach, but.

when it happened that I was coaching, that's what I wanted to be to the. players that I coached. And um, so I. guess that's how it happened. And I got. a lot of positive gratification out of. that. And I think that was the. difference between being in the NFL and. being in college. You know, I love the. competition in the NFL. I love coaching. the players. I love the strategy of the. game and all that. But there was a lot. more self-gratification in college about. helping people. Yeah. Because they were.

at the right age where you could impact. them. You know, 18 to 22. and they all. still had goals and aspirations of what. they were trying to accomplish. So, um, and I think that's why I ended up. landing in college. You've kind of run. like it seems like or not run, but it. seems like some people would say that. they had like the Sabin Rehabilitation. Center for coaches that have kind of. gone ary at certain moments, right? What. was your determining factors for if a. coach was a good fit for you on your.

staff? Well, you know, I wanted people that had. character so that they would set a good. example for the players. Uh, I think the. players needed mentors and people that. they could look up to. >> Yeah. >> They needed to be knowledgeable. >> Oh, yeah. >> But they needed to be good teachers, uh, have good teaching prep preparation and. presentation in terms of what they did. And they had to be a good fit. And you. used the word ego before. And I think. with coaches sometimes you have to.

respect the other coaches and work with. them and work together for what the best. interest of the team is, not necessarily. what's the self-indulgent behavior of. what's best for you, if that makes any. sense. >> And um. >> like how would that play out for a. coach? Like that that would be like a. self-indulgent behavior just. >> Well, like the offensive coordinator is. more worried about scoring points than. he is winning a game. >> Got it. >> Uh. >> oh. That can be a trap, huh? >> Yeah. and you know, you end up fumbling. the ball at the end of the game rather. than running it when you're supposed to.

because you put win in first. >> So, um, but you know, when you ask about. the rehabilitation part of it is, you. know, all the coaches that. I had on the staff, you know, people. think discipline is punishment. Discipline is really doing something to. somebody that changes their behavior. So it was easy for me with players. because they all wanted to play. So if.

they if I said if you don't go to class. you're not playing or if you don't quit. having positive drug test you're not. going to play. They would change their. behavior because it was something. significant to them. You know my. daughter was always on the internet. always on the computer. If you take the. computer away you could get her to do. study, clean up the kitchen, do whatever. you wanted. So, but it was what's was. significant to her. So, I looked at the. same thing as coaches. You know, you say.

these guys had issues and problems, but. they all got penalized for the issues. and problems that they had, whether they. got fired or whatever, >> but they had some really, really good. qualities that got them to where they. were because they were successful at. some point in their career as an. offensive coordinator and even some. cases as a head coach. and whatever this. issue that they got penalized for, now. they all of a sudden want to change.

their behavior. so that they get another opportunity to. be a coach. And I always just said, can. I manage this guy? Can I manage this? Can I manage the issue? Because I know. there'll be a positive in terms of what. the guy brings to the organization if. it's negative doesn't bring it down. >> Yeah. So, and uh we were able to do. that. But in every one of those. circumstance, that person knew that if. they had one more stub of the toe, it.

was going to be career ending for them. >> Yeah. >> So, they were willing to change their. behavior. >> You had a lot of guys in your coaching. tree sort of um that were kind of that. have been under you or I don't if that's. a term to use, but that have been part. of your coaching tree over the years. Um, Kein, Jimbo, um, Kirby Smart, um, Lanning, Sarkc. Um, what was it like when they started to. become this pack that was then like. trying to beat you? Like was did that. become its own thing that kind of added.

actually some extra excitement for you? Like what what did that what did that. feel like? Because that's pretty. fascinating kind of. >> Yeah. Well, you know, when you play. somebody that really knows you, that makes things a little different. >> Does it make it harder? >> No, it makes a little harder cuz I think. you got to tweak things and change. things a little bit, which may you may. not be comfortable with. >> Do you think you liked almost that it. made it a little bit harder? Uh, I like. competing against those guys, but uh, I.

knew that I had a lot of respect for. them because they had done a tremendous. job for me. And I was glad that they all. got opportunities. So, um, because they did a good job. Uh, and it was always a challenge to replace. them because they did such a good job. Um, so but it was, you know, I think we. we all kind of respect each other as. competitors and, you know, you probably. have some friend that you.

competed against that it was more fun to. beat them uh because they were your. friend and it gave you kind of bragging. rights even though you might not have. bragged about it. Yeah. >> It still gave you the right to. >> just even on the text thread or. whatever. >> Yeah. So, um, >> which one of those coaches that I. mentioned a few minutes ago, which one. kind of do you feel like learned the. most from you? >> You know, I can't, you probably need to. ask them that. It be hard for me to. know, but um, I I think they all have. their own style. And when each one of.

them left, whoever it was to go take a. head coaching job, Mario, Crystal Ball, it didn't matter, Kirby or whatever, I. said, "The most important thing you have. to do is be yourself. Be yourself. Don't. try to be like somebody else. Don't try. to be like me. I mean, you can take some. of the technical things that we did here. and you know, the way we built the. program and use those things to your. benefit, but you have to be yourself. You have to be you. >> Why? Because trying to do somebody. else's thing is just a trap. You feel.

like? >> Yeah. I I I think you have to be. authentic and people have to see you as. being authentic and people have to see. you as believing, you know, in what. you're trying to preach or teach or. whatever. Got it. When you were when you. were recruiting, did you drive? Did you. go with somebody else, dude? And or sir, and did you drive or did somebody else. drive? Like if you went. >> Yeah, most of the time I went with an. assistant. >> And would you let them drive or would. you drive? >> They would drive most of the time. I I. remember one time we were in Iowa. Mario.

Crystal Ball's, you know, Cuban from. South Florida. >> Oh, yeah. He's great. >> And um. >> and he eats all the snacks. He's been. eating all the snacks down there. >> Yeah. And you know, I love the guy and. he's done a great job in Miami. But. we're in Iowa recruiting a player in the. dead of winter and I mean it's a. blizzard sideways. I mean it snows going. sideways blowing crazy. He never driven. in snow before. I said, "Mario, let me. drive." And and he was so prideful, you. know, that he he wouldn't let me drive. I mean, I grew up in West Virginia. We.

had snow. I lived in Michigan. I lived. in Ohio. Yeah. So, I was used to driving. in the snow. Oh, yeah. >> But no way was he gonna let me drive. All right. So, we survived barely. >> But he just wouldn't let you do it. >> Dang. Maybe he thought that warm like. cuz they got that the machismo or. whatever. Maybe he thought that would. melt's path or something. I have no. idea. >> No, he's a extremely hard worker and a. great recruiter. Really good. Yeah. Was. really good recruiter, developed great. relationships with players, and he's.

done a great job in Miami. >> I just can't imagine you letting. somebody else drive. That's the part. that I think is tough for me to think. about that part. >> But, you know, so hard to sit there and. let somebody else drive. >> But I I I would actually get work done. >> Oh, I see. >> And I would go to all these places that. um. I I didn't know my way around. Now, when. I was an assistant coach and I went. recruiting, I went by myself. I knew my. way around. So, I was confident. And, you know, we didn't have GPS and cell. phones and all that stuff back in the.

day. But um. >> yeah, >> all these assistants now they got to. type it in their phone and get. directions and all. I don't even know. how to do that. >> Yeah. >> So um I'd let them handle that part of. it. But when I was a head coach at like. LSU. and you could and the head coach was. allowed to go to spring practice, I. would go a lot of times on my own and. just go, you know, to watch guys. practice cuz I you can tell so much more. about a player if you see them live.

>> than you can looking at a film. >> But um I loved that and it was great. And you know there were two coaches that. did it. Erdmire did a great job of that. and I did it and they passed a rule that. we couldn't go out on the road. >> Oh, that's a saving rule, isn't it? >> Yeah. >> That's what they called it. Do Did you. ever get into a place where you were not. welcome? Like, did you ever pull up on a. porch or something and knock on. somebody's door where you were just not. welcome? >> Yeah. When I first went to LSU in New. Orleans and you know, you know, South. Louisiana,

the people were not happy with LSU. And. there was several families I went in and. they just said, "We're we're just not. interested in in talking to you." And we. had to actually prove oursel that we. were going to create value for players. I mean, we built an academic center. there. We took the graduation rate from. the low30s to 72%. I think in four years and we won the. national championship. So, but we had to. prove ourselves in terms of how we were.

going to create value for players other. than just football. >> Yeah. I I will say this, when you've. gotten to a campus and when you've left. it, it's looked nicer. That's a fact. I mean, Alabama looks. beautiful these days. That campus is. beautiful. And we, you know, that. community's changed a lot in the last 20. years. And, you know, the school's. gotten bigger, so that created some. growth. Um, but they had a plan of, you. know, if we improve the quality of the. education and we improve the enrollment.

with a lot of out ofstate students, that. would provide the resources for us to. redo the whole campus, which they. basically did. And you know, football. was kind of the window that you know, people look at an institution. So, us. having success in football probably. helped them do that. >> Yeah. I mean, it looks great. It's just. it's great over there. >> It's beautiful. >> It really is. It's beautiful. Um, did. you leave football because of the. recruiting, because of the NIL? Like, is. that kind of one of the main things.

people That's sort of what people say. just off the cuff, right? Is that kind of the truth or did you. just feel like you had achieved enough? >> Well, it's not the reason I left. Um, in. fact, we had name, image, and likeness I. think the last three years that I. coached and having been in the NFL. managing the salary cap and all that, it. it wasn't that big an issue. Uh, but I. could see that players were changing and. I could see that the way you were going,

people were making more. transactional decisions. In other words, it was more about how much money you. going to pay me than how are you going. to develop me. >> And I think we always sort of. created more value for players in terms. of personal development, academic. development, and football development. And we had proof in the pudding. you. know, we had high graduation rate, fewer. guys getting in trouble, uh, most guys. drafted, most first round draft picks.

So, we had proof that we were creating. this value. Now, as the the table. started to turn, we we were going to. have to change the way we did things and. because it was going to be more about. how much you paid some guys to get them. to come. And, uh, that was okay cuz I'd. been in a league where that was what it. was all about in the NFL. I mean, players are playing for money. They're. trying to play well so they can make. more money. Yeah. >> Uh and they're trying to extend their. career so they can make money for. longer. So I I I was okay with all that.

I I think for me I never wanted to ride. the program down. >> I see. Like you you wanted to kind of. end on a high note, >> right? I I never wanted a coach where my. age and my inability to have a positive. impact was going to start to see the. program go down. And um and And I felt. like at 72 years old that last season. season was really really hard, you know, we lost early on and um the team really.

improved and we got in the playoffs and. they did a fantastic job, but it was. very challenging and I just I I didn't. know what I was going to do. I mean, I. think this is in the documentary that. I'm sitting there, I got a 4:00 team. meeting. I got two speeches. I got one. that says I'm staying and this is how. what we got to do to we had a young team. so we we'd have been good the next year. Um this is what we have to do and then.

over here I'm going to tell the players. I'm going to retire. >> And that was 10 minutes till four and I. didn't know which one I was going to do. Um so. >> how'd you decide? I called Miss Terry and she said, 'You. know, if you're that stressed out about. it and you're that much there's that. much turmoil, you know, you have to do this at some. point in time, whether it's this year, next year, or the next year. So, if you. feel that much anxiety about making the.

decision, maybe now's the time to do it. while you still have your health and. quality of life is good enough that we. can do other things. So that's basically, you know, what. brought us to that decision. >> Was it the toughest decision like that. you felt like you had to make it? >> Toughest decision. Yeah. Really? Maybe. ever. Yeah. It's really hard. >> I've been part of a team for so long and. enjoyed the relationships with the.

players and had such great relationships. with the players and knew a lot of those. players sitting in that room. came there. because, you know, of the University of. Alabama, but also because I was the. coach and um generations of family, generations relationships with the the. assistant coaches and the staff and I. knew all that was going to get blown up. and that was the hardest thing was to. change the changes it created for. everyone else. >> And was that a kind of a weird drive. home after that? Like how did that feel.

after that's kind of that's huge. Yeah, it was it was it was a weird drive. home. Well said. >> I feel like that day when you get home. and you set your keys on the counter, they kind of make a different sound, you. know? >> Yeah, they do. But it also was. a relief in a lot of ways that you. didn't have the stress of continuing or. worrying about making the correct.

decision. >> Right. And I do think it was the correct. decision for me and Miss Terry and our. family. U because you know I I missed my. kids growing up. I didn't really want to. miss my grandkids growing up. >> So this has given me a little bit more. time to have those relationships. >> Did Did it ever bleed over where like. you were coaching and fathering where. they almost became the same thing. sometimes like just because it was so. much. like that would seem like there would be. some maybe crossover in that space.

Well, I I thought that it was really. important that. because I didn't have a lot of time with. my kids that I made sure that the time I. had with them was quality time. >> And. >> like, how'd you do that? >> A lot of the same things that. help you be successful in life are the. same things that would help you be. successful in football, >> right? >> And um in any sport for that matter. So, um, we tried to teach those values.

and, you know, our kids turned out. pretty well, so I'm not disappointed in. that. >> Yeah. What's something that you admire. most about each one of your uh, You have. two children, right? >> Yeah. >> What's something that you admire most. about each one of them? Well, Nicholas. works in our Mercedes dealership in. Birmingham and he's a general sales. manager and he works his butt off and. he's a really he's all into it and. committed to it and I'm proud of the. fact that he's very productive doing. that. I think he's a good father to his. daughter. Um he's got a good wife and I.

think they do well and I'm very proud of. him. Kristen has a son and I think she. does a good job of parenting and a good. mother and uh we're always trying to be. helpful and how we can help him and he's. a boy so he plays everything, soccer, baseball. Uh the only thing I hate is. every time I go to try to watch him play. I get bombarded with kids wanting. autographs and all that which I'm never. going to tell the kids no but I'd like.

to watch the game too. So, um, that. creates a little bit of a conflict, but. it's all good. >> Like, yeah. What are things that you get. to see about your grandkid that you. almost maybe like not missed out on as a. dad, but it's like it almost gives you a. second chance? I guess it's like Yeah. Does being a grandfather give you like a. second chance almost at a. >> little bit? Yeah. And and it's not it's. that you didn't have time, you know, like we we only had a family dinner on. Wednesday night. was the only night that.

I came home and we had a family dinner. where everybody sat down together at. dinner. Can you imagine. >> your family only is one night a week you. eat together? >> Um, one of the things that Miss Terry. did because of that was Sunday is the. day that I didn't like the most because. you had to finish the game you just. played, start preparation for the next. game. So it was a grind on Sunday and.

you didn't see the players on Sunday. So. she instituted five o'clock to six. o'clock was family dinner. So everybody. brought their kids. All the assistant. coaches brought their kids, our kids, our grandkids, everybody had to come for. one hour on Sunday. So everybody had to. get together. So that was the kind of. stuff that she could see that was needed. that was great for morale of the staff. and the families who were supporting the. staff.

that made made a big difference. >> Yeah. I think having just a backup set. of eyes like that is nice, you know, >> very nice. >> cuz when you're in the fire, you need. somebody out there who's got who knows. how to use a hose, you know? [laughter]. >> Yeah. It helps. >> Yeah. I mean, because you're in there, it's hot in there. Anywhere worth going this fall is better. in comfortable boots. Find your perfect. pair with Tovas. Tacovas crafts quality western boots for.

everyone from generational ranchers and. lifelong cowboys to firsttime boot. buyers. I rock mine sometimes if I'm. wanting to feel a little taller or just. going to be out in the dirt or or if I'm. maybe going to be getting on a. horseback. They just I don't know, they. make you feel confident and more. importantly, they're comfortable. Takova's boots are handcrafted with over. 200 meticulous steps for broken in. comfort right out of the box. They've.

got the boots you need this season for. tailgating, festivals, weddings, bonfires, whatever. Right now, get 10%. off at takovas.com/theo. when you sign up for email and texts. That's 10% off at teco.com/theo. Tokovas.com/theo. See site for details. TOAS, point your. toes west.

um the CFP now. Uh what do you what do. you think they should do with that? Because last year it felt kind of wonky, right? It felt like some teams should be. in almost a different divid like a. different big tournament, you know, or. maybe they should have two tournaments. for some of the larger schools and then. some of the smaller schools. What do you. think the solution is there? Um and and. what do you worry about the most? Well, me personally, I think that people. want to see the best 12 teams in the.

playoffs. I think to get to a 12 team. playoff, we had to do what was. politically correct and make sure we. included some of the. schools that weren't in the power. conferences. >> Yeah. It's like DEI, division inclusion, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, and I get that part, but I think. each year we try to take some steps to. make it better. Like it was not good. that Notre Dame didn't get in the. playoffs last year and it would have. been bad if they got in and Miami didn't.

get in because I said Miami is going to. be one of the toughest teams in the. playoffs and go a long way and they went. all the way to the finals and almost. beat Indiana. So. people just want to see the best teams. and I think the other thing is is we got. to come up with a better metrics to. determine strength of schedule. Like the question got asked at the SEC. meetings this year, Texas loses to Ohio State 14-7.

Now, they had a bad loss at Florida, but. they end up 9 and3. So, the question. was, if we' have played Texas State. instead of Ohio State and ended up 10-2, would we have gotten in the playoffs? And they had a hard time answering that. question. So that in of itself says the. metrics for how we determine strength of. schedule is not what it needs to be, >> right? >> And we always just look at how many wins. a team has. And just like the SEC, there.

was six teams in the top 10. They're all. going to play each other. So they're not. going to end up in the top 10, but. they're all really good opponents. >> Yeah. So, you're playing a difficult. strength of schedule and that should be. taken into consideration. Like I think. they do a better job of that in. basketball. You know, they say if you. beat so many top 10 teams, you get so. many points. You beat 11 to 30, you get. so many points. You get nothing for. playing somebody who's not in the top. 50. So, they have a better way to sort.

of figure out strength of schedule and. who gets in the tournament. >> Well, with the evolution of it, so it's. an evolving thing, you're saying. Um, and with the evolution of it, it does. seem like immediately kind of the bowl. games turned into just something that's. more of a fun thing. It almost like the. tradition of a lot of the bowl games. sort of seems like they kind of fell by. the wayside quick. >> Yeah. And that's one of the things that. back. 10, 15 years ago when people wanted to. expand the playoffs,

I said if we expand the playoffs, we're. going to make bowl games obsolete. players are not going to want to play in. them. Fans are not going to go to them. They're not going to get supported. Uh. and bowl games have been, you know, a. tradition in college sports and it was a. reward for a team going eight and four. and the team gets to go to a bowl game. the fan base gets to travel and that's. all going to go away because the. playoffs will become the standard of.

whether you had a good season or a bad. season. And we had 33 coaches get fired. last year because the playoffs have. become the standard and everybody. expects their team to get in the. playoffs. So, and that can't happen. There's 12 teams that get in the. playoffs now. We may expand the playoffs. in the future. I don't know if that's a. good thing or bad thing. The only thing. I'm concerned about is there is a limit. to how many games a college player. should play. There are three or four. times where we played 15 games in a.

season. >> and I thought that was too many. Now. you've got potentially 17 games that you. could play. So, um I think we got to be. careful about that. >> Do you have a say in that sort of thing? Like are you on the committee? >> I don't have any say. >> Have you ever met those people? Who is. the committee? Uh, I mean, is it real. people or is it just a bot? >> Yeah, they're real people. >> I just wonder if it's like an AI or. something. It's like, who even knows, you know? It's kind everything's kind of. confusing now. >> Um, do you think social media had a big.

change on people? You kind of coached. across this time frame where uh people. didn't have social media and people were. just like living in the, you know, the. eyes on you were just one anothers and. the lords. That was it, you know. And. then this other thing came along where, you know, we all kind of had the ability. to watch each other. What do you think. the effect of social media was on. players over time? Did you notice any. effect? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I I think that. in the old days, you know, players were more motivated.

from within. and weren't necessarily exposed to what. other people thought, so it didn't matter as much. I think what social media has done is. created an external factor that impacts. a lot of people. >> In other words, what other people say. about me is meaningful. So, >> as opposed to my relationship with. myself, >> right? It's not about what I think of. myself, it's about what everybody else.

thinks of me. Like I used to say to our. players all the time and people have. heard me say this publicly before is I. see players on their phone getting upset. because somebody puts a post on there. that's negative about the way they. played or something or whatever and I'd. say why do you care about what some fat. guy running around in his underwear. living in his mother's basement. >> probably pierced nipples coach. >> Yeah. puts on the internet about what. kind of football player you are. Why why. would that matter to you?

>> Yeah. more than what matters to yourself. in terms of the truth about how did you. play, what do you need to get better, what habits do you need to change, you. know, what things do you need to. overcome, what work needs to be done to. make you better. You you have no control. on what those people say. Focus on what. you can control. And when you take that. out of the ex out of the internal, right, you take that relationship with. when you put that out into the external, all that energy goes out into the.

external too. Oh yeah. Now this. motivation is from this foreign thing. And it's not really this like scale of a. relationship with you inside of yourself. of value and what do I think and what. output do I want to have and what do I. think of um of the outcome that I'm. creating for myself. I don't think I. don't think we know the long-term. effects of like that whole thing of. taking like all of this like this this. like this template of our own. relationship with ourselves and putting. it into this external place. It's kind. it's really kind of crazy.

>> I know you you that was very well said. what you just said. >> Was it really. >> and I agree with you 100%. >> dude that's awesome. Thank you. Oh gosh, I got to write that down. Um, I will say. this when we got to go like just when I. was touring with comedy, we got to meet. each co we got to meet coach Moffett. over there at Texas A&M. Awesome guy. Um, and but one of the best times that. we had was we went went to the uh. Alabama campus and they took us just on. a tour of the facilities and stuff. It's. pretty magnificent they got over there. Ty Simpson gave us a tour everywhere.

It's pretty cool. >> We had a great time. >> Well, Ty is a great young man, no doubt. And. but we built all those facilities. They. weren't there when we got there. >> Oh, I believe that. >> And they the commitment that the. university made, the athletic department. made, people made to give us the tools. to do what we wanted to do to support. the players the way we wanted to support. them. Um, with facilities, academic. support, food, whatever it was, medical.

treatment, medical training, mental. health, we had it all. and they did a. great job and it was very beneficial and. helpful to us being able to build a. program. >> Oh yeah. I mean the structure is there, you know. Um let's look real quick just. at Lane Keifin, right? It's an. interesting thing that's going on here, right? We can all say that, right? Like. uh Lane's a buddy of mine, right? And so. I love like Lane's the only coach that. has two rosters basically as well. active. How do things end up with Lane.

overall, do you think? because it's. usually been kind of taboo if there was. like a coach that was like kind of a. single guy, right? What do you think's. going on down there? >> Oh, I I don't make any predictions about. things like that. But I will say that. Lane is a really good coach. Uh did a. great job for us. He's a fantastic play. caller. He's got a great ability to. recognize what the other team's doing. and adapt in the game. >> Yeah. >> Uh to take advantage of it. He's a. really good recruiter. He relates well.

with players. Uh and I think you know. that's all changed a little bit. You. know we've got it a little more liberal. in this whole uh what's the expectation. for how you should be as a person. relative to how you can still lead. Um. and you know I was always wanting to set. a good example and I think it's. important that that's a part of it but. you can set a good example in other ways. other than just your personal life. He's. not married so.

>> Oh yeah. I think it's fine. And I just. think it's interesting, you know, that. you've kind of had like a. >> I think it's a little more acceptable, you know, now than maybe back in the. day. >> Yeah. >> So, um. >> I agree. >> Do you Yeah. If if say if so, recruiting. is kind of do you think the value of. recruiting is still the same or it's. >> No. >> Okay. So, if that's not there, what. becomes the new value of a coach to an. organization? Do you feel like how does. that kind of morph or evolve? Does that.

make sense to you what I'm asking? >> No, absolutely. >> Okay. >> So, how do you evaluate the players? >> Who you going to pay? What positions are. most important? Because if you pay the. wrong guys, and you've heard me say this. before, you're out of luck. Yeah. >> So, when you can't evaluate the players. and you don't pay the right guys, you're. going to pay the consequences for that. in the future because you're going to. spend all this money. you're not going. to have a very good team and you're not. going to get the outcome everybody. expects. And then the cause and effect.

of this paying players is we're raising. money from alumni who now think they. should have a say in what happens. And. that's why 33 coaches got fired last. year. >> because of boosters. >> Yeah. They have a say. >> Yeah. So I guess the value the a lot of. the value is going to become in like. judgment like the ability to be a judge. of character. character and talent and. ability. If you don't, look, talent is. not talent if you can't use it. So, if. you don't have character to go with it,

you probably can't use it. >> And it's not just in [clears throat]. sports. I mean, nobody nobody that's not. really really smart gets in medical. school. You got to be really really. smart. But everybody doesn't make it. >> Talented enough, but they don't make it. Well, some reason for that. >> Yeah. So uh and some of them that make. it don't make very good doctors. So I. always say talent is not talent if you. don't if you can't use it which means.

you have to have some kind of. competitive character to make the kind. of choices and decisions to create the. habits. So you can recruit talent but. accountability and commitment you have. to develop. >> Got it. >> And most of the time you can develop it. So, it's going to be the coaches that. can have have the judge of character, but then also the ability to help their. players create those things. >> Yeah. And also have the talent. >> What do you tell a player now that can. that can have a couple of million. dollars in his bank account? Like, what.

do you say to these young men at 20. years old that other coaches might not. be telling them because they're afraid. that they're going to lose them or. they're going to afraid that they're. going to um upset the Apple Card in some. way? >> Like, what would you tell these young. men if you could? Don't let the money. change you. You know, stay focused on. the things that you can control to. develop value for your future because. there's a lot more value out there. But. I will say one thing that's very. interesting to me, former players that played for us, I'm.

not mentioning any names. They they didn't make the money. They. didn't get paid. They played. They. created value. They made a lot of money. in the NFL. they played for a long time. And one of them said to me the other day. that was kind of alarming. Said, "If I would have gotten paid $2. million when I played here, I don't know. if I would have become the man I became.

I don't know if I would have developed. into the player I became. I don't know. that I wouldn't have, but I don't know. if I could have handled that at 18 and. 19 years old. And I don't know if I. would have become what I was able to. become. >> Wow. Pretty interesting. >> Yeah. If you kind of live long enough, you can kind of see this how the certain. steps were shaped and the ones that. maybe helped you and ones that didn't, you know, over time. I think that's one. of the blessings about being alive is. you get to see how all the little magic.

kind of worked out. The little things. that maybe you didn't even know if they. would. >> Yeah. >> Um, I don't want to forget to ask about. Sabin. That's the name of the. documentary. It's a six-part series. Um, what can people expect out of it? >> You know, this documentary is a little. bit of a scrapbook. You know, my mom kept a scrapbook of. when I was a player and this will be the. scrapbook for the future. >> Yeah. >> Of what we did. And it's kind of a. navigation.

of how did we develop this program and. all the people from friends, family. growing up to coaches and players and. people who impacted. >> Oh yeah. And for the fans, it's going to. be an interesting look from inside out. >> because they did things like I gave like. talks to the team and I would never let. the media hear what I said to the team. in the locker room or in the team.

meeting or whatever. It was always. taboo. I didn't know Alabama was filming. all this stuff and putting it in an. archive. I didn't even know they were doing it. Well, we got all that stuff and put it. in stock. So, it's a it's an inside. outlook at. how do you how did this program get. developed and it should be interesting. for fans to be able to see that. Yeah. >> You know, I spent 20 30 hours in. interviews and 70 people got interviewed. and. >> if I have wrote a book, it's just the.

book. But now you got all these. personalities that you can see how this. impacted and they related to this and. how it helped them be successful. So, I. think this is going to be a scrapbook of. the future for um this generation and. generations in the future, just like my. mom's old scrapbook. >> Yeah. I think I love the fact that. there's you get you get all these. different players and uh and and media. personalities. There's like Mark Ingram, who I love. I see him at the UFC fights.

Um Rolando Mlan. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um there's just so many different. characters. Oh, your wife is in there. um your son is in there. There's so many. different like pieces of your life that. uh that kind of like chime in about. different little things. And it's. fascinating to also to see the different. schools you played at, the different. coaching, the different decisions that. were going on. Um like I wish you'd got. to coach Drew Brees. I think that would. have been awesome, dude. That would have. been like I start thinking of little. things that I wish wanted had happened. Not in Miami. I would have wanted it to. happen in New Orleans, but still. Um,

>> but you know the Drew Brees thing would. have been. we would have been successful in Miami. if that would have worked out. But then. I'd have never gone to Alabama. >> Yeah. >> Because we'd have probably ended up. staying there because we could have had. success. And one of the reasons was, you. know, with getting called Pepper, he was. injured. He couldn't play, not taking. Drew Brees because of his injury, which. turned out not to be an issue.

because we don't have a quarterback of. the future. That's pretty much why I was. interested in going back to college. because I didn't think we could be. successful in the NFL if you didn't have. a quarterback. And I thought that you. could impact your you had more control. of how you could impact your. organization in college because you. could go recruit 25 players every year. It wasn't a draft and all that, but and. we didn't have any draft picks. So, um, I was happy to get the opportunity to go. back and it's worked out tremendously.

You know, I wouldn't probably be here if. I didn't go back to Alabama and have the. success that we had. >> What's something interesting that you've. noticed about. yourself being away from coaching? Like. what's something like because that's a. long time to be locked in in one sort of. facet, one sort of machine. What's. something that's you've either found. that you a new joy or just something. that's different? stress level. is way down. And it's easier to enjoy.

other things because you're not so. stressed about this one thing that you. can enjoy other things. So now I can. enjoy other things, people, relationships, have more fun, laugh more, and all those things are pretty healthy, I think. Do you think you'd have such a good time. on game day? Are you enjoying it more. than you thought you would? >> I love it. >> Yeah. >> I mean, your buddy Pat, >> you know, I was I was so anxious that.

first time we're we're over in Ireland, I was so anxious. Had never done that. before. I got a lot of pride in. performance. I want to do a good job and. I'm all worried. >> and you know, Pat gets up there and he. starts his stuff and I'm saying. >> this guy makes me feel like there's. nothing I can do that's going to mess. up. >> Yeah. So, it just made me relax and uh. has been so helpful. Um, you know, all. the guys have been. >> Oh, you guys got a great group, man. Reese Davis. I mean, it's just so.

perfect. >> And they're all so helpful and they're. all much more experienced than I am. So, they have they've really helped me grow. and develop. >> But Pat is what creates sort of the. comfort level for me. thinking I'm gonna do something wrong or. I'm gonna mess up. So. >> yeah, you can't do anything better or. worse than Pat. Kind of in a loving way. I say that. >> That was a good way to say it. [laughter]. >> He does it all.

>> Thank you, >> man. He's I He There He There He There. He There He There He There He There He. There He There He There He There's. nobody like him. He is like There's. There's nobody like that guy. >> Yeah. And I love being on his little. show that he has every day. I always go. on Friday at like at 12:15 or something. >> Oh, the Pat McAfee show, you mean? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I love because that group of guys he. has, they're all football guys. They ask. questions, they're into it. I love that. little 20 minutes of bannering back and. forth with those guys. It's great. >> Nice. So, do you think you're having. more fun nowadays then?

>> Yeah. I mean, I had fun coaching. >> Yeah. >> But there there was there was this whole. big pile of stress over here. >> Yeah. and hard work and little time to. do anything else to have this much fun. for this little bit of time before you. had the next challenge looking you in. the eye. >> Yeah. >> So, um and then we won so many games. >> Oh, that's true. >> That the expectation got so high it was.

almost like. do you really enjoy winning or you are. you just relieved that you didn't lose? Right. So then so now the fun starts. minimizing itself. So. now the stress level is down, the fun. can go up. It's easier to have. relationships with people. So I mean for years now we we we don't.

have a lot of friends in Tuscaloosa all. the time I'm coaching because people. call and say, "You want to go out to. eat? You want to do this? You want to do. that?" No. Nick's working at night, can't do it. He's on the road. recruiting. So, they quit calling. >> Will Miss Terry come and eat at the. office sometimes? >> On Sunday for Sunday family dinner, uh, and Wednesday we ate as a family. >> Yeah. >> So, um, >> man, it's a long run. It's a lot of. sacrifice.

>> It is. It's not It Coaching is not. familyfriendly. And uh I think coaches are constantly. trying to make it more familyfriendly in. terms of things that they do. But. >> does it have to be that high stress? Does it have to be, you think, or do you. think it sort of became this escalation. ladder that made it even. >> I don't think there was any other way. for me to do it? >> Got it. Hopefully there's other coaches. that can do it another way that it's not.

that way. But I felt like for me to do. it the way I was going to feel good. about the job I was doing, that's how I. had to do it. And that was a trap that I. couldn't get out of. >> Yeah. Your own success almost became. Yeah. It's almost a trap, I guess. Huh. That's wild. >> Yeah. >> I It's a nice trap. >> Is what it is, but I wouldn't want it. the other way. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] That's a good. point. Um, thank you so much for your time, coach. I just appreciate you coming.

today and uh. >> Well, I I appreciate you. having me. >> Yeah. >> Uh, it's been fun. I enjoyed. visiting with you. You got a great. perspective on things um and a good. ability to articulate things maybe a. little better than me sometimes, and I. appreciate that for making some of my. points. But um at the same time, you. know, hopefully this thing that we're. doing, >> oh, the documentary [clears throat] is. great, >> is going to help people get sort of an.

inside look at um what it takes to build. a program and have a better. understanding of um how this whole thing. got done and uh hopefully it'll be. something that fans can enjoy. Were you. scared at first with the documentary. that there was there it was going to. involve too much of your personal life. or did you even know what your personal. life was because you've been coaching so. long? >> You know, I'm I'm not big on any kind of.

self-promotion. So, I wasn't that interested in writing. a book. >> and I really wasn't that interested in. doing this. But there was so much interest in people. doing this. There were like eight or. nine of these. whatever companies that do this that. wanted to do it and I'm kept like I. don't know if I want to really do that. You know what I accomplished is what I. accomplished. People know what it is.

But this is an inside look at it. Uh and. I think it'll be interesting to people. and I'm actually glad that we did it. >> because I do think it's going to be a. scrapbook for the future. It'll be a. nice scrapbook for your family as well, for everyone. There's so many people. involved. A. >> lot. >> They did a great job. You guys did a. great job. Uh the documentary comes out. Thursday, October 8th, um 5:00 p. p.m. Central and ESPN and the ESPN app. Um. Coach Nick Sabin, thanks so much for.

everything, man. Thanks for the. championship at LSU, too. Appreciate. you. And uh yeah, just I I love getting. to join you guys over at game day and. just thanks for all the years of uh. excitement. It's been a good time. >> Well, thank you for having me. It's been. enjoyable. Lots of fun. Thanks. >> Yes, sir. >> I must be corner stone. Oh, but when [music] I reach that. ground, I'll share this piece of mind I.

found. I can feel it in my bones. But it's going to take.