Alabama Football: Saban on Vacation? Don't Count on It!

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Yes, spring practices are over, the recruits have been signed for this year and the coaches enter a period of very limited contact with the players until fall, but if you think Nick Saban is taking time off to vacation, guess again.

Tonight Nick Saban is in Texas with the "Crimson Caravan," a series of speaking engagements that keep the Bama Nation members who are scattered across the country informed of what's going on at Alabama. But more importantly, it gives them a chance to meet Nick Saban and for Nick Saban to generate headlines in an area of the country that he might not usually get.

And he'll be doing this for the next few weeks until he starts his summer camp training programs for high school students.

He also uses the opportunity to do a little recruiting in those areas too, as well as developing relationships with high school coaches and boosters in that area as well.

Terry, his wife, usually accompanies him, and while it's not a vacation, it's about as close as it gets most times for her.

Sometimes Saban can squeeze in a round of golf, but even when he does that, he's usually working the boosters who may be playing with him.

Terry Saban should be on the payroll for all the PR work she does on behalf of the university. Nick is not the only recruiter that parents remember, but also Terry often knows just what to say and how to work the parents too. She is a remarkable person who makes such a great impression that some have joked that when they recruit together, that Nick prefers to let her do most of the talking because she's better at it.

And during the Crimson Caravan, Terry works the room and guests with Nick. She and Nick pose for pictures, shake a lot of hands and leave a lot of smiles on the faces of the Bama Nation members who attend and meet them.

Meanwhile, the assistant coaches are off in their areas recruiting away too.

Nobody is on vacation right now but the players, and that soon is about to end as well. Summer session means working out voluntarily with seven-on-sevens, more weight lifting and conditioning, and more.

"I found out a long time ago, it's not about outsmarting your competition, it's about out working them," Saban told a group of us once.

And it's a motto he not only loves, but lives by.