Crimson Tide's Nick Saban not a fan of unauthorized biography

Alabama football coach Nick Saban watches over Thursday's practice, which was the first of the preseason for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama football coach Nick Saban watches over Thursday's practice, which was the first of the preseason for the Crimson Tide.

There is a book that Nick Saban is not recommending for summer reading this year.

Or any other year, for that matter.

Alabama's football coach was fuming after the Crimson Tide's first preseason practice Thursday about "Saban: The Making of a Coach." The book, which was released Tuesday, was authored by Forbes magazine staff writer Monte Burke.

"I'm opposed to an unauthorized biography for anybody," Saban said. "I think it's some person you don't even know trying to profit by your story or someone else's story. One of these days when I'm finished coaching at Alabama, I'll write an authorized book, because there is really only one expert on my life. Guess who that is? Me."

Burke interviewed more than 250 of Saban's friends, former players and former rivals, including former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville and former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. Saban is described in the first chapter by former Pop Warner teammate Mark Manchin as "an adult when we were 10. I don't remember him ever laughing or smiling. I don't remember him being happy."

Saban's passion for recruiting and for working long hours is detailed in the 324 pages, as are his agonizing decisions when job opportunities opened throughout his career. The most recent of those scenarios was portrayed in the book's last chapter with the Saban-to-Texas speculation that was rampant late in the 2013 season.

One former unnamed Alabama player claims Saban provided relationship advice in a team meeting by stating that "you never want to sleep with anybody who has less to lose than you do."

Saban said Thursday that some day he will write a book that will not contain misinformation, false statements and hearsay.

"There won't be any expert analysis from somebody else," he said. "It will be the real deal, but I'm not really ready for that to happen. It's a little amazing to me with the timing of this happening while we're starting camp, but I want all our fans to know that it won't be a distraction for us and it's never going to get discussed again.

"When we decide to write an authorized book, it will have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

As for the two-hour practice, Saban said it went well and praised his players for their work this summer. Saban has traditionally held separate practices for the older and younger players on the first day but felt this year's freshmen were far enough along to combine the workouts.

Jake Coker and David Cornwell were spotted in the practice portion open to the media working as co-No. 1 quarterbacks, while the tailbacks had a pecking order of Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and true freshman Damien Harris.

Tailback Bo Scarbrough, a five-star prospect in the 2014 class who didn't enroll until January, continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered in spring practice but is suspended for the first four games due to an NCAA-related matter.

"We have to respect what they say about amateurism," Saban said. "I don't really know the details of it and shouldn't comment."

Tide tidbits

Alabama will open its 2018 season against Louisville in the Orlando Citrus Bowl. The Crimson Tide and Cardinals have not met since the Fiesta Bowl after the 1990 season, when Louisville rolled to a 34-7 surprise victory. The first-team offensive line continues to include left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Ross Pieschbacher, center Ryan Kelly, right guard Bradley Bozeman and right tackle Dominick Jackson. Sitting out the Tide's first workout due to injuries were sophomore receiver Cam Sims, junior receiver Raheem Falkins and redshirt freshman lineman Josh Casher.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

Upcoming Events