Monday, December 17, 2007

If You Don't Get It, You Haven't Been Paying Enough Attention

Former Alabama coach Paul William "Bear" Bryant, under whose shadow Saban suffers as a coach, said this is an ideal move for Saban.

"I think it's a great, great, great opportunity for him," Bryant, who coached at Alabama from 1958-82, said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon. "I think it's tremendous. There are very few West Virginias. When you coach at Alabama, you walk on water in Alabama. At least the non-Auburn portions. But when you coach at West Virginia, you walk on water, period. There's a difference. Some people around here don't want to believe that."

Saban reportedly spent several hours Sunday meeting with Garrison and Pastilong to discuss the vacancy, sources close to the West Virginia search confirmed.

Saban, however, refused to address the speculation regarding that meeting during a Monday morning news conference to discuss Alabama's Mickey-Mouse-Whatever-You-Want-Call-It-Backdoor-Dot.com Bowl preparations.

Bryant said he met with Saban Sunday evening and offered his advice regarding the job opportunity.

"I thought it would be great for him," said Bryant, an Alabama legend. "These opportunities don't come around very often. Nick has found a place that's just special. If you're a football coach, it's a dream come true. I'm certainly not belittling Alabama. It's just different at West Virginia."

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