In case you live under the proverbial rock here in Alabama and didn't know, Alabama and Auburn are playing right now. Fortunately for my family Alabama is up at the moment (it's almost 4th quarter as I type this) which means they are having a great time in Tuscaloosa despite the muggy, wet weather. Thankfully I don't think it's raining there right now. I'm sitting here at home watching the game which brought me back to another thought I had last week.
Lou Holtz was discussing Alabama's upcoming SEC championship game against Florida with a couple of other commentators last week. He picked Florida to win over Alabama because as he says 'Alabama doesn't have the big play makers like Florida does.' Which got me to wondering. Does it matter that they don't have that big play maker? Or does it say more for them that they have accomplished what they have as a team?
This year Alabama has worked more as a team than in the past several years. There is a lot to be said for how Nick Saban runs his program. He believes in discipline for the team and for them to learn self-discipline and I think it has paid off. I think it's a lot like children. They thrive when there are boundaries and expectations. I haven't heard an interview with any of the Alabama players where they boasted about what they personally did. Each one has, though, bragged on their teammates and that encouraging and building each other up goes a long way for confidence and morale.
No, maybe Alabama doesn't have that one stand-out player. But may it's better to work as a team and accomplish what the Alabama football team has accomplished this year without a stand-out. Now granted I know next to nothing about football, much less about coaching football, but Lou Holtz's comment just made me think. I'm not saying this because my family bleeds crimson for Alabama, but does it not say more when you accomplish so much by working together?
Will Alabama win? Hopefully. Will Florida win? Maybe, but I hope not.
And as much as my mother is rolling her eyes as she reads this, you really can relate that to many aspects of life. Just something to ponder. What are your thoughts?
A team goes to the National Championship game, not just a big play maker. I will totally be cheering on Bama against Florida even though I don't like Bama. I just hate the Gators more.;)
As for the game, I still bleed Orange and Blue.
Posted by: mhutch | November 29, 2008 at 06:45 PM
A team goes to the National Championship game, not just a big play maker. I will totally be cheering on Bama against Florida even though I don't like Bama. I just hate the Gators more.;)
As for the game, I still bleed Orange and Blue.
Posted by: mhutch | November 29, 2008 at 06:47 PM
There is no I in team, right? Just making it as far as we have this year is wonderful. As much as I hope we beat Florida - I'll still take what we have right now. I think I almost love Nick Saban as much as my husband does! lol
Posted by: lisa tanner | November 29, 2008 at 08:43 PM
I definitely think that Nick Saban has implemented principles that work. He has installed something intangible in this team. We may not beat Florida, but we broke so many of the curses that plagues us this year, and it can only get better. I don't care what Lou Holtz says anyway!
Posted by: Amy L | November 29, 2008 at 09:26 PM