Rick Bragg on Nick Saban
Rick Bragg’s article in Sports Illustrated on new Alabama football head coach Nick Saban reminds us of why his writing is such a pleasure to read:
But the [Bear] Bryant magic was about more than numbers, more than X’s and O’s and big ol’ boys who would have blocked a pulpwood truck if he’d asked them to. It was about how he could draw every eye in the stadium to him as he leaned against that goalpost during warmups, a growling, mumbling golem glued together out of legend, gristle and a little bit of mean. It was almost cheating, having him on the sideline, like filling your trunk full of cement blocks before a demolition derby.
But the quote that jumped out as pertinent to our interests in Alabama politics and policy: “Never assume that Alabamans give a damn what others think.” Good advice.
I have observed that those working for the good of Alabama find themselves perched between two occasionally conflicting dynamics: Alabamians don’t like the state being near the bottom of so many lists of state rankings, and (related to Bragg’s line) Alabamians don’t like being told what to do.
Relatively unimportant observation: I also note that Bragg (or his editor) uses “Alabaman” instead of “Alabamian.” “Alabaman” makes a lot of sense to me as the name for a resident of the state. If you use “Alabamian,” then you no longer have the state’s name correctly spelled. After stubbornly using “Alabaman” for many years, I have largely given up, as “Alabamian” is far more widely used, at least in my observation and hearing.
I have to agree. I thoroughly enjoyed Bragg’s article and was pleasantly surprised to find such a well-written piece in SI. I particularly liked his comment that Coach Paul Bryant was so popular that they named an animal after him. I believe that even Auburn fans will enjoy reading Bragg’s article: he uses mostly small words and there are lots of colorful pictures.
Comment by Roy — August 27, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Gotta love this story in article:
“One year [my family and I] were in Miami, and Auburn happened
to be playing the Hurricanes,” says Fowler. “I walked out on
the beach, and there were all these Auburn people. It was
terrible. I looked up as one of these little planes went by
pulling a banner “Attention auburn, the Bear lives.”
“I don’t remember what it cost, but it was pittance
for what I got for it.”
Comment by Ball Time — August 27, 2007 @ 11:07 am
November 24, 2007 = Six
get ready
Comment by OldCloverdale — August 27, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
I think Bragg’s statement and yours that Alabamans don’t like to be told what to do applies in just about all Americans and its strongest here in flyover country.
Comment by walt moffett — August 27, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
My favorite line in this story was, regarding Saban, “No one cares how he did in charm school.”
Then again, I love Rick Bragg and can find a quote worth citing in just about anything he’s ever written.
Comment by Sara — August 27, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
I’m an Auburn guy but I have to admit that line about “Bryant was so popular they named an animal after him” is sheer genius.
Comment by Clinton no Reagan — August 28, 2007 @ 8:15 am
“Alabamian” is how I learned it. Just like it’s “Floridian” instead of “Floridan”.
Comment by anonymous — August 29, 2007 @ 12:24 pm