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Show Monday, December 15, 2008 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Saban's career prolific, controversial However, Saban has changed his tune somewhat after looking into the Utah STAFF WRITER program for probably the first time in his Ute fans have every reason to loathe life as a coach, and is now "excited" to Alabama head coach Nick Saban after play Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Saban has established himself as one his statement that Alabama was the only team to go 12-0 in a real Bowl Champi- of the best college football coaches onship Series conference after his team around these days. He's, also the best lost out on its chance to go to the BCS paid one. He has done stints in the pros as a head coach and defensive coordinaChampionship game. tor, but achieved fame by coaching Louisiana State to a national title in 2003. After floundering around in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, he's back to college football and is making his mark again. Saban was shredded by the media after taking a job with the Miami Dolphins, which he initially said he wasn't interested in. It's tough to turn down the freedom that Alabama has given him, as well as a S32 jnillion contract over eight years with incentives such as two cars, a country club membership and use of a private jet. In an article earlier this season, Forbes Magazine named Saban the most powerful coach in sports. This is due to the fact that he has been given control of recruiting, coaching, public relations and business administration for the team Saban has always been revered as a defensive guru and has carried that torch THE ASSOCIATED PRESS with him all the way to 'Bama. Prior to his first head coaching job at Toledo in Nick Saban received criticism when he took the 1990, he was the defensive coordinator Alabama job. In Saban's second year at Alabama, for the Houston Oilers. After a one-year he has led his team to a 12-1 record and a spot in stint with Toledo, he was arguably the the Sugar Bowl. best defensive coordinator in the NFL Marco Villano with the Cleveland Browns. He turned the defense around from a team that allowed the most points in the league (462) to the least (204), in just one season. Saban has earned his right to lead a team and has been head coach of four different Division-0 schools. He has turned every program around within two years. After a dismal season last year at y-6, the Crimson Tide returned to their tradition as one of the best teams in college football. At 12-1 in the SEC, the Tide came pretty close. Although he wanted a shot at the National Title game, which would have been his second trip in five years, Saban said he is pleased to be playing in the SEC's biggest bowl game. "Our players are certainly disappointed," Saban said. "But this is an opportunity. If you're going to be a great team, when you lose, you want to come back and play your best the next time you Play." In 2005, Saban had a lot of slack to pick up to make the Dolphins into a playoffcaliber team. He turned them into a 9-7 club, which is the second-highest victory turnaround for their organization. The following season is one that hit the headlines. After the Dolphins showed a lack of improvement by finishing 6-10, a head coaching job opened up at Alabama. Everybody's attention turned to Saban after Steve Spurrier and Rich Rodriguez turned down the job. Saban repeatedly said he wouldn't take the LUCAS ISLEY/flw Daily Utah Qimnldt Utah running back Darrell Mack is one of many Utes who have not fumbled the ball all season. Utah has standout turnover statistics Whitney O'Bannon See SABAN Page 8 STAFF WRITER p ou want to play a real team TONY in a BCS Bowl game, PIZZA you got it/' or "How did we go from the ^^^ potential members of Crimson Tide aren't alone. the BCS ChampionAccording to data taken ship to opponents of BCS from an ESPN poll at 8 p.m. fraud members," and "What on Dec. 14, 82 percent of the hell is a Ute?" the 50,397 voters worldwide This is how I picture the inner monologue developing think the former No. 1 team in the country will win this in several Alabama players' game. and coaches' minds when Bowl Championship Series Even with a Superdome Bowl berths were handed out that is sure to predominantly Dec. 7. garbed in the Alabama shade If Alabama is overly of crimson, Utah is more confident in its chances in comfortable in the underthe Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, the dog role then President George W. Bush apparently is at dodging Iraqi footwear. 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TRY OUR DEMOS AND GET HALF BACK Specials: Men's Haircut $6.99 Women's Haircut $10 Color $30 & up Perm $30 & up Wax $8 \^ Store hours: 10:30 -7 Monday - Satyr-day 1 i/elcome, Sointment necessary. Johnson, Brian QB Reed, David WR 6/4 3/1 Peel, John WR Louks,CorbinQB Brooks, Jereme WR 2/1 2/0 2/1 2/0 Casteel, Brent WR 1/1 Jones, Justin DB 1/0 Hendy, BenTE Asiata, Matt RB 1/0 Note: All fumbles lost, aside from Johnson's, were muffedpunts. This stat alone helped Utah win every game so far and will help the Utes head to New Orleans, La., confident in their ability to carry the ball—regardless of how many Alabama players are looking to create turnovers. In every practice, turnovers are a point of emphasis, whether it's the offense working for better ball security or the defense looking to strip the ball. Senior running back Mack said every day in warm:ups, the coaches try to strip the ball from him so he can practice safe carrying. "We just practice holding onto the ball," Mack said. "We make it a priority to hold onto the ball during the game and at all times." Whittingham knows the importance of playing clean offensive games, so he emphasizes what he calls, "Lock, load andfinish."Lock the ball up in order to secure it, load it up on contact andfinishout the play. See TURNOVERS Page 7 TANNI Utah's Premiere Tanning Salon Located at Olympus Hilts Mall (next to Canyon Bicycle) Phone: 278-TANN Hours: Mon-Thurs &-&; Fri 8-7 Sat 10-5; Sun 11-3 "Mystic tan **5 levels of tanning **AII new 2008 beds **Gift certificates .available * * Attn Students: Get $2.00 off a single Ian or 10% off pass package!! Just show us your school I.D. Coupon: Buy one tan get one free... any bed... includes Mystic One per customer Expires 1/31/09 t (overall/lost) All season long, head coach Kyle Whittingham has preached the importance of winning the turnover battle. The reasoning behind his logic is that the turnover margin in football is often what decides games. Utah has won this ratio in almost every game this year, which has resulted in a successful season. The team is plus-11 on the year in terms of takeaways to giveaways. "The turnover margin is probably, other than the score, the most critical stat in football,". Whittingham said. "Our offense did a great job of possessing the ball. That's the name of the game, other than scores, is the turnover margin." The team practices stress ball security and that has helped Utah running backs and wideouts to not have one fumble all season long. There were no fumbles from tailbacks Matt Asiata, Darrell Mack or Eddie Wide. The same goes for wide receivers Bradon Godfrey, Freddie Brown, Brent Casteel— the list could go on and on. Alabama gives Utes bulletin board fodder Fumbles Coupon: Buy any lotion over $50,00 get 3 FREE tans ANY BED One per customer Expires 1/31/09 |
