Coach ,

You can always count on Nick Saban to deliver insight into the game.  At the Louisiana Football Coaches Association Clinic this past month Coach Saban dropped some knowledge in several aspects of the game, and even cracked a joke, though he was serious about what he was saying.

Here are eight Sabanisms that will spark some thinking and conversation on how you can improve yourself as a coach as well as build and develop your team. (Click on all images for the video of Coach Saban).

#1: Who do you want on your team?  ‘And’ or  ‘But’ ...Don’t give anybody a reason to say ‘but.’ It’s the only way that you can create value for yourself.”

#2: “It takes what it takes.”

#3: “A lot of these guys get alot of self gratification from the attention that they get. But, when it sets an expectation & standard for what they think they ought to be able to accomplish, they lose the focus on ‘What do I have to do to be a good player?’”

#4: “When somebody does something wrong everybody wants to know,  ‘How are you going to punish the guy?’...there’s not enough people saying why don’t you give him another chance.”

#5: “All of us are a bit addicted to tomorrow.”

#6: “How do you pray? Because this is the difference — Do you pray to be blessed? Or… Do you pray to be a blessing?” 

#7: The difference between “what if” and “only if”... “You gotta play the price for success upfront.”

#8: “Mediocre people don’t like high-achievers — and high-achievers don’t like mediocre people.”

#9: “So many people want to succeed, but they’re not willing to do the things they have to do to succeed...Things that are worth having - don’t come easy.”

#10: Here’s the bonus where coach is having a little fun...or maybe he’s dead serious...either way it is entertaining:

Coach Saban’s entire Q&A at LFCA is here.

A bundle of 5 talks that are full of coaching wisdom from Coach Saban, Sean Payton, Eric Bienemy, Steve Sarkisian, and Terry Joseph is available here:

“Building Relationships, Culture and Leadership Bundle”

It’s always helpful to hear simple truths from the GOAT. Hopefully there are a few that make a difference for you now.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski