Alabama Football: Do Bama's Fans Need a Bye Week As Much As the Players?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer): I can personally attest that even as a writer, this has been a busy and taxing season and my friends who are fans say much the same, so it got me wondering.

Do the fans need a bye week too?

Nick Saban has said how the team desperately needed a little time off for the boys to heal and rest both their bodies and their minds in preparation for the end run of the season.

I think we can all agree with that.

There is a whole list of players with nagging injuries, pains and problems that a week off could do wonders for. Most fans know about Marcell Dareus, but there are at least a dozen others I could spit out that Saban and company might not like, so I won't.

But what about the fans?

I may be a writer, but I'm a fan too, and this gives me the chance to relax for a week, concentrate on the upcoming teams, do a little research and maybe take a day or two to just work at a new office building I bought and get the bugs worked out and the contractors all lined up.

As for me, I'm taking the time to give my loyal wife a day, maybe Sunday, out on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico on the boat. We haven't used the kitchen on the boat in some time and a nice lunch at sea might be just the tonic we both need to finish off the season ourselves.

Bacardi loves to go boating and stays busy chasing the sea gulls away and even he deserves a break from his work load of studying ESPN U all day while we're at work to refine his picks.

I also spoke with some of the boys on the team, many are going to go home, see their old high school team in action, relax, or some other indulgence they haven't gotten to do in quite some time.

Some will pair off with other teammates and travel this weekend, some will go alone, but all are looking forward to the time off.

The coaching staff however will get only a few hours off.

They'll be recruiting, studying game film and refining game plans. The life of "Team Saban" rarely has a lot of time off, but you know that coming in.

Knowing Saban, he may actually linger one morning for an extra cup of coffee with Terry before going to the office, but that's about it. Nobody pushes himself any harder than Nick Saban. I think he was the inspiration for the Energizer Bunny.

So enjoy your off week, let your fingernails grow out for another week, because we'll all be chewing them again soon as Alabama finishes the year with not one but three worthy opponents capable of dashing their SEC and BCS title hopes.