Nick Saban can suck it
Nick Saban, the coach of the Miami Dolphins for the last two years, just skipped out on the remaining years of his contract to take a job offer from Alabama. On December 21st, he said this:
guess I have to say it. I’m not going to be the Alabama coach
I know you can change your mind, but this pisses me off. As a lifelong Dolphin fan, I knew that turning the Dolphins back into the perennial playoff contender I grew up with would take some time. Saban was supposed to have five years, and I thought he could do it in that time span. Despite going 6-10 this year, as a fan, I was still willing to give Saban a chance, I think MOST Dolphin fans were.
Read that article I linked to above. He repeatedly denied interest in the Bama job, and he gave assurances to Wayne Huizenga late in the season that he wasn’t going anywhere. That’s my biggest issue. Huizenga is one of the best owners in the league, and he wants to do everything in his power to get the Dolphins winning again. To lie to him just adds insult to injury.
The thing that really upsets me as a fan is that now the Dolphins have to hit the reset button again. He’s left the franchise in a pretty bad state with tons of players ending up as free agents at the end of the season, and now we have to change coaching philosophies… again.
Say what you will about Dave Wannestadt, but he at least tried his hardest and didn’t leave us high and dry. Saban on the other hand will go down with Jimmy Johnson as the most reviled Dolphin coaches. The Miami Dolphins, and us fans, deserve more respect than you gave us you asshole.
If Jason Taylor retires, I’m flying to Alabama to slap you in the mouth myself…
EDIT: Dan LeBatard at the Miami Herald echos my feelings perfectly.
January 4, 2007 @ 11:03 am
As a miamian and lifetime dolphin fan I think you missed the greatness of Jimmie Johnson.
Namely that he WANTED TO WIN! As bad a Shula did.
Whinestadt had no killer drive in him, ever.
Then Saban talks a big game but when it comes down to it, he doesn’t even go for it on 4th and 1 at the 7 in a game that is worthless, but could have hurt the Jets.
Hopefully Huzienga will stop the search for a nice family man and get someone with no kids and divorced who just wants to win at all cost and shove it down everyone’s throat.
January 4, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Yeah, Jimmy wanted to win, but his treatment of Marino (and Shula) was deplorable at best. Jimmy had too big of an ego and it was all about him. And he didn’t try LONG enough. He might have gotten there if he didn’t give up. But see, things always came quickly to him wherever else he coached, and when it didn’t in Miami he bolted instead of bucking up and trying harder. That’s why I am not a fan of Jimmy.
He brought us some great players through the draft, but that was about it to his greatness in Miami.
At least we can all agree that we dislike Saban more now
January 5, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
I know why you’re pissed (I sure would be, in your position). But as a Pats fan, I have to tell you: we’re thrilled he’s gone. We did *not* look forward to playing the Phins with Saban as coach. There was a collective sigh of relief from Patriots Nation when he bolted for ‘bama.
PS: What’s up with Taylor thinking about retirement? He just had his best year ever. The man was unstoppable. Ask Tom Brady. Is this a snowball effect from the Tiki Barber news, where people are thinking about retiring before their bodies break down completely? Does he have any known physical issues? He’s always looked pretty damn healthy to me…
January 5, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
He’s had some back issues the past couple of years and played through them for the most part. It could be that, or it could also be trying to salvage his marriage. His wife filed for divorce in the offseason, but I dunno if it ever happened. He might be thinking a life outside of football could save that, I dunno. Either way, I hope he doesn’t bolt. I think a lot of it will do with who the next coaching staff is…