Epps: Tide players understand Saban’s fury

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban’s natural expression is a grimace. His stare, with those drill-bit eyes, can make you devoid of any words or thoughts. His voice can rise without any warning, and when it does, you will not see a single motion from the stunned witnesses.

It’s almost like time stops.

The Alabama football coach’s intensity never ceases. Even when you picture him rocking a baby, he has that look.

The headset Saban was wearing when he unloaded on Marquis Maze following a celebration penalty will never be the same. After Leigh Tiffin kicked a ball out of bounds just before halftime against Tennessee last year, Saban chewed him out so badly that he had to make sure Tiffin was OK before his next kick.

Saban worked himself into such a frenzy during his coach’s show two weeks ago — the coach’s show! — he unleashed a four-letter word.

Saban said he ripped his team so badly during halftime of the LSU game that he was almost certain he pulled a stomach muscle. Makes you wonder how the veins in his neck survive.

Most people can safely watch Saban from their homes, secure from his passion and rage. But Alabama’s players must experience his anger in person, look into those eyes, endure the presence of his red face and listen to a rising voice that scoffs at natural decibel levels.

They attempted to describe the experience of a Saban explosion Monday, and here was the surprising part: They embrace his passion.

“He’s loud,” defensive end Bobby Greenwood said. “But he’s straight to the point. We work too hard to just come up short here at the end. We all feel that, too. That’s why we bought into the program; that’s why we have 11 wins. And we want to keep him from doing that as often as possible.”

And that might be the most significant change from year one to year two of the Saban Era: Players understand the you-know-what chewings are not to be taken personally. It’s constructive criticism, but in surround sound with the volume turned up to 11.

“It’s like an atomic bomb,” left tackle Andre Smith said. “But that’s the type of guy he is. He’s a great coach. I love the man. He demands the best out of you at all times.”

Alabama’s players say Saban doesn’t throw markers or punch chalkboards or kick lockers. When your anger is so limitless, so unyielding, tossing a plastic object seems trivial. Saban’s message is always 100 percent verbal.

Saban came to Alabama with the reputation of a passionate, fierce, intense coach. He famously made then-Miami Dolphins rookie Manuel Wright cry with the cameras rolling.

“He carries enough power with his voice that he doesn’t have to throw anything to make his point. The yelling is enough,” linebacker Cory Reamer said. “We get his message just by what he says.

“Before he even got here, you saw him when he was with the NFL the way he exploded on some of their players and how emotional he is. He just cares a lot about his job. He’s real passionate about what he does, and you expect that from a guy like that who really is into his job. It gets me fired up to see him get just as excited about something as we are.”

The adjustment for Alabama’s players took time. They were used to the calm demeanor of Mike Shula, who looked so relaxed on the sideline that at times you wondered if he was awake. And then here comes Saban, whose rants can keep people from sleeping.

“Now, you know, you kind of get used to it. Coach Shula and Coach Saban are very different,” right guard Marlon Davis said. “There’s always room for improvement when you’re dealing with Coach Saban. If you want to be the best you can be, you understand that when he chews us out, it’s not so much personal. We understand he’s trying to make us the best we can be and make the team the best we can be.”

Because if you can survive a Saban explosion, the rest of life must seem fairly easy.

“I’m an emotional guy. Sometimes I get mad,” Saban said. “If you can’t take me getting on you, you have no business being out there. Because if you get beat in front of 95,000 people, that’s going to be a little more difficult for you than anything I’m going to say to you. If you can manage me getting on you, then I probably won’t get on you anymore. So you’ve got a win-win.”

And, for Alabama, even more wins on the field.