Challenges Still Remain For Nick Saban at Alabama

With two undefeated regular seasons and a BCS championship last year, you would think that Nick Saban would be sitting on top of the world.  He is of course, but don't tell him that...you'll only motivate him further.  

From the moment Nick Saban arrived in T-Town, there has been a word that has been repeated to the Alabama faithful more times than Ben Stein repeated "Bueller...anyone, anyone?" in the 80's.  That word is "Process".

What is the "Process"?  It is a focus on every down domination, brought about through mental and physical toughness.  In other words, to take one day, one game at a time, and work on improving your individual self every second.  Now this may sound like coach speak, from other coaches, but not with Saban, this is who he is.

Last year the Crimson Tide family saw the "Process" bring the first national championship to the Capstone since 1992.  Alabama wore down their opponents, through a "Process" of unmatched mental and physical agility.  However, Nick Saban found himself in unfamiliar territory, as last season was the first time his "Process" produced a team that was undefeated.  This is not to say he has not been successful, this is merely to say that the Saban "Process" seemed complete at 14-0.  But don't tell Saban that, you'll only motivate him further.

Nick Saban is an incredible motivator, and the fact that the "Process" worked is only cause to work harder. Why should he work harder?  Well...he has never repeated in successive seasons as a National Champion coach.  He has never coached two back to back completely undefeated seasons.  He has never started the year at #1 and finished at #1.  He has never won the Rose Bowl, then the Fiesta Bowl.  He has never beaten Auburn 3 years in a row.  He has never coached a team in the year 2010 to a national championship.  He has never coached a regular season game before in the expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium. He has never coached Mark Ingram the Heisman Trophy Winner in a regular season game.  He has never had a movie made about him...Get the Picture.

No matter what happens to the Crimson Tide this season, or the next, there will always be a way for Nick Saban to motivate his teams for further and future successes.  Try as you may to derail him, but the "Process" won't allow it.  One could argue that this season will be his most difficult in relation to the "Process".  But who would do that? "Bueller...anyone, anyone?".  No one will, because it will only...motivate him further.