With Valentines Day a little over a week away, love is definitely in the air, and manifesting itself in truly weird ways. While you may have an affection for a friend, co-worker, or- as crazy as it sounds- maybe even your wife, there is one very public person, with a very serious crush on Alabama coach Nick Saban.
However if you’re thinking that person is some cute Tuscaloosa coed, a hounds tooth clad grandma, or even FaxCam girl, well, you’ve got another thing coming to you.
So who is this person with the serious hot’s for Saban? Well, it’s actually none other than Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who just so happens to be the closest thing that Saban has to a peer in the basketball world. Cal has been admiring Saban from a distance for quite some time, but it wasn’t until recently, that he decided to take that affection public.
This, from AL.com:
Speaking Monday at The Birmingham Tip-Off Club via video conference, Calipari said he mentions Alabama’s performance in timeouts to his team. He also called Nick Saban the day after the Crimson Tide won the national title.
“I was blown away by their flawless play — blown away,” Calipari said. “And I said to him, ‘You may be the best at what we do in any sport. In that environment, all the talking, all the jabbering, all the tickets, all that’s going on, you got your team to focus like that and play flawless. And then with two minutes to go there’s a penalty and you throw off your headgear!'”
With all due respect Coach Calipari, you’re going to have to stand in line behind the entire Crystal Ball Run staff if you want a chance with Coach Saban. Quite frankly, we love him here… borderline obsessed.
Then again, can you really blame us? After all, Saban is at the top of his profession, a three-time BCS National Champion, and current king of the recruiting trail. And with most of his offense returning, and a new wave of blue-chip studs ready to restock the depth chart this spring, it seems as though Saban- and his team- aren’t going anywhere for awhile.
At the same time it is pretty cool hearing Calipari reference Saban the way he has. After all, if there is one person who might understand the demands that Saban faces almost every day, it very well could be Calipari. As someone who was just recently in Lexington, I can assure you, the entire state is hoops obsessed 365 days a year, a lot like Alabama is for football. Cal is in a constant fishbowl, no different from Saban every time he steps foot outside his home. It does only make sense that at some point, these two titans of their respect sports would connect.
But beyond just those connections, it really does seem like Coach Cal is actually putting the lessons learned from Saban into practical use.
More from AL.com:
Calipari, who is searching for his first national title, has referenced Alabama in the Kentucky media since the BCS Championship Game. His players hear it, too.
“I’ll bring up Alabama in a timeout: ‘Are we playing like Alabama?'” Calipari said. “I was so inspired to watch that game. I was like, wow.”
Whether the lessons learned from Saban will actually deliver Calipari his first National Championship, well, only time will tell. But if there’s one man Calipari could learn a thing or two from, it’s definitely Saban.
By the way Coach Cal, if you’re looking for a Valentines Day gift for Coach Saban, remember: He eats Little Debbie snack cakes every day.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XNj9qe3DzLc
(Thanks to Chad Wilson for the tip!)
For all his insight, opinion and analysis on sports, be sure to follow Aaron Torres on Twitter @Aaron_Torres, as well as the entire Crystal Ball Run staff @CrystalBallRun.
