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Alabama head coach Nick Saban knew being 20-point favorites heading into the Week 2 matchup towards Texas didn’t imply a lot.
Whereas followers and pundits predicted a dominant victory by the Crimson Tide, Saban cautioned towards shopping for into the hype, referencing Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M as heavy favorites through the 2021 season.
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks with officers earlier than a recreation towards the Texas Longhorns at Darrell Ok Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Sept. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas.
(Tim Warner/Getty Photographs)
Saban’s concern turned out to be well-founded, with Alabama squeaking by 20-19 Saturday.
Saban praised his group’s psychological toughness at his Monday media availability for locating a approach to win whereas not enjoying its finest soccer.
STEVE SARKISIAN CHANNELS HIS INNER NICK SABAN, SAYS TEXAS MUST BE ‘CAREFUL OF THE RAT POISON’
“I feel you get psychological toughness as a result of issues are laborious,” Saban stated Monday. “It’s important to embrace laborious. I feel that’s true in your life. I feel that’s true in soccer. I feel robust instances make laborious individuals. Straightforward instances make tender individuals. It’s no totally different in soccer. If it’s laborious, you must embrace laborious. I’ve no downside with our gamers and the way they embraced laborious on this recreation.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, left, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban meet on the sector throughout group warmups earlier than a recreation Sept. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas.
(AP Picture/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
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“They confirmed an incredible quantity of toughness and resiliency to play by means of what they needed to play by means of to win the sport,” Saban continued. “We didn’t execute like we wished to, however you possibly can’t fault the psychological toughness. It was robust circumstances. Powerful crowd. Extremely popular. We had guys getting cramps and never in a position to end the sport in some instances. So I don’t query the psychological toughness.”
TEXAS’ QUARTERBACK SITUATION UNCERTAIN WITH QUINN EWERS INJURY
It was an uncharacteristically sloppy recreation for Alabama, which dedicated 15 penalties for 100 yards towards Texas, probably the most ever by an Alabama group with Saban as head coach.
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks on his headset throughout a timeout within the fourth quarter towards the Texas Longhorns at Darrell Ok Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Sept. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas.
(Tim Warner/Getty Photographs)
“We don’t need penalties. It’s all about self-discipline. Making the precise decisions and selections whether or not it’s pre-snap or post-snap, it doesn’t matter,” Saban stated in his on-the-field interview, in keeping with Sports activities Illustrated. “We acquired to play higher, there’s doubt about that.
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“You gotta give Texas a whole lot of credit score. Sark’s carried out a fantastic job right here, they’ve acquired group. We simply acquired to play higher.”
Alabama should lean on its psychological toughness because the season progresses with 4 groups within the high 25 on the schedule.
Subsequent up is UL Monroe earlier than Alabama begins its SEC slate towards Vanderbilt Sept. 24.
