It’s no secret that the good folks living in SEC country care more about their football team than you do yours. At best, we’d call people in the SEC “fanatical” and at worst “maniacal” but there’s no doubt that in places like Tuscaloosa, Knoxville, Athens and Auburn, football isn’t a Saturday diversion, but instead a 365-days-a-year way of life.
Still, as crazy as some Southern fans can be, every once in a while we come across a story that puts that fact into a new light. Today, we have found one of those stories, courtesy of the Montgomery Adviser.
Why’s that? Well apparently a few weeks back, the Montgomery County school board began taking suggestions for the name of a new high school in the area.
The citizens of the area settled on New Park High School, but not before more than 60 suggestions were sent their way. And along with the regular suggestions, like naming the school after Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson or Barack Obama, they did get one very interesting proposal.
That suggestion: Naming the high school after current Alabama head football coach Nick Saban.
Yes, the people in the area, actually wanted to name their high school after a college football coach. Albeit a successful one, but still.
Here’s a bit from the Montgomery Adviser’s article:
Yes, of the approximately 60 suggestions received from the public, Nick Saban High is on the list. It was among the many intriguing and thought-provoking ideas submitted, but ultimately not chosen.
Officials have said the name isn’t just a label, but rather an identity for a school that will impact the lives of countless young people. After all, who doesn’t remember the name and mascot of their high school alma mater?
What’s even crazier is why- at least partly- the name was withdrawn from consideration. It had nothing to do with Saban’s role as a football coach, and where he might (or in some people’s eyes) might not stand in a societal hierarchy with guys like Jefferson or Obama. Instead, the decision to veto naming the school after Saban came at least in part, because of a fear that the high school was located too close to the Crimson Tide’s archrivals, the Auburn Tigers.
Here’s more from the Advertiser
Montgomery Public Schools spokesman Tom Salter, who was on the naming committee, said he certainly learned a lot during the process. But when grilled about the potential of a Saban High, he chose his words carefully.
“As big as an Alabama fan as I am, it would likely not be an appropriate choice, especially this close to the Plains,” he said.
So seriously, I’m not entirely sure what’s crazier: That someone seriously thought it was a good idea to name a high school after a football coach? Or that it was rejected in part, because the name might upset some locals who root against that same coach.
Only in the SEC, huh?
For all his insight, opinions and articles on sports, be sure to follow Aaron Torres on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
