Opening comments continued...

We put together one complete game - the Tenneesee game. We played up to our competition, we played down to our competition, we didn't finish.

continued...

I think the league is outstanding from top to bottom. It's the best it's ever been as far as players and coaches.

On JPW:

He's a little more business like and mature in how he goes about things. There is an opportunity at the receiver position for several people to step up. That's the real area where we need people to step up and play good football for us

A reporter just asked Saban how he has dealt with his "mediocrity" of late.

He laughed and deadpanned:

"Well, I try to get better I guess."

On the offseason problems:

I'm not going to clean house and get rid of everybody because they might be a problem. I feel very good about who we are, what we've done and what we're going to do. We need to do what we do, just better.

Some reporters will never learn that Saban doesn't deal in "expectations." One reporter, who knows better, asked back-to-back questions about expectations.

On linebacker positions:

The ones that develop the quickest and ones that give us the best opportunity to win, whether it's a freshman or a junior will play.

On this year as compared to last year:

It was a difficult situation for the Sabans. We took a tremendous amount of criticism. We appreciate the warm embrace we've had from the people in the state of Alabama. That's gone a long way to making us feel comfortable. We still have a long way to go in terms of recruiting and player development.

On the new offense:

If you can minimize the number of thought processes it can be beneficial. You can have a great system but it can be complicated and the complication can affect the player's ability to perform consistently

On Les Miles' Louisiana teams comment:

He told the truth, he told it like it was. We need to earn it, that's what Tom Hanks told the guy on the bridge in Saving Private Ryan. We need to earn it.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard D. Lee:
On Les Miles' Louisiana teams comment:

He told the truth, he told it like it was. We need to earn it, that's what Tom Hanks told the guy on the bridge in Saving Private Ryan. We need to earn it.

Awesome comment

On his preference regarding injury reports

I would have no problem with it if everybody had to do it the same way. Eventually everyone finds out anyway

A reporter asked Saban about sports physchology and referenced Sigmund Frued.

Saban replied, "I'm from West Virginia, we don't even know who Frued is up there."

Saban is done in the print/internet room.

Alabama safety Rashad Johnson's comments on the incoming freshmen:

They came in like they were the top recruiting class in the nation. The competition is great and it's going to make us all better. I'm looking forward to it.

A lot of those guys you wouldn't know they were freshmen because they're so physically fit.