(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
By Terry Pellman
Sunday night, at 6PM CST, University of Alabama's Athletic Director is scheduled to formally announce the new basketball coach for the Crimson Tide, Anthony Grant.
The last few days have been an interesting ride, albeit a quick one.
A question may have been answered when it comes to those that follow the athletic programs. We either have a fan base that has become lackadaisical over the last few years expressing their feelings and support of Alabama basketball.
Or, and I'll admit I'm tempted to lean this direction, we have a fan base that is prone to find things to complain about and do so under the guise of "being a fan of a particular sport."
The lack of those expressing their opinions about the search wasn't to be found this past week. The lack of fans that looked at the situation with our coaching search logically was found—and found in abundance.
For now, I'll choose to quietly dismiss the inane grumblings all the time knowing they'll resurface eventually.
For now, as we await Sunday evenings press conference it seems like an opportune time to look past the hiring process and look at the man who was hired.
Who is Anthony Grant?
Looking around the SEC at the reactions of rival fans has been an interesting past time the last 12 hours.
Commonly seen is, "Well, I'm glad they didn't get Mike Anderson." I find that reaction entertaining at its best.
On the flip side of that coin, if Alabama were to have pursued and landed Anderson, I'm sure I would have read two things.
One, the phrase, "I'm glad they didn't get Anthony Grant." And two, perhaps most importantly because it would have a bearing on how this search was conducted, would be the statement, "Good luck to the Tide in graduating players."
It's a new hire that isn't as publicly spoken of as Nick Saban's hire in January of 2007, but it is a hire that rivals around the SEC can't ignore despite their expressions that it hasn't created an interest on their part.
After all, this is the same coach that was considered the replacement to Billy Donovan when he flirted with the NBA's Orlando Magic two years ago. That, after all and according to their opinions then, was a solid replacement.
Hey, let's not forget this is the same coach that both LSU and South Carolina pursued one year ago only to be told no in the end. This was also the same coach said to the the "apparent leader for the Georgia job" as well.
Perhaps, one of the many coincidences this hire has with Nick Saban's, is it's another coach that the state media told Alabama fans, "you'll never hire him."
But, since I've used Nick Saban's hire a few times as small examples already, I thought it would be prudent to follow that train of thought and see where it takes us.
Often criticized by those on the outside, sometimes by those from our own inner circle, Saban's personality is "all about football." It's a very business-like approach, serious, with little room for frivolity.
Grant seems to be of the same mold. About the only jokes that come from the practice courts are those told after players have moved on to their post-collegiate careers.
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