Published: July 25, 2008 06:32 pm      

Tuberville, Saban take the high road

The Game Plan by Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



When fierce competitors are involved, things can sometimes get heated, especially in an emotional game like football. Fierce competitors sometimes let snide remarks get out—some which stir up old rivalries and others which start new ones.

When LSU head coach Les Miles told a booster function not to look at the Tigers win over Alabama as a big one, he pointed out that there are other teams (Monroe) in the state who can beat Alabama.

Miles surely delighted the LSU fans, but his snide remark riled up Alabama fans, who are sure to remember in the fall of 2009 when the Tigers come back to Tuscaloosa.

However, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is trying not to make a big deal about the comment.

When Saban was asked about Miles statement on Thursday at SEC Media Days, he responded that Miles was right and that the Tide had to earn the respect of other teams by beating them on the field.

Saban didn’t try to beat Miles talking, he chose to take the high road instead.

The amazing thing about Saban’s restraint is he could have easily taken a shot back. For example, he could have pointed out that Miles beat the Tide with a starting lineup made up mostly of players Saban recruited, but he didn’t. Hats off to Saban for his self-control.

Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville did the same thing on Friday, when he was asked by a reporter about whether or not his assistants, while on the recruiting trail, exploit the fact the Crimson Tide has had 10 players arrested in the past 18 months.

Tuberville, who owns six straight wins over his huge in-state rival, choose not to get a dig in or take a free shot, he too chose the high road.

Tuberville pointed out that you can’t take advantage of another school’s misfortune to gain a recruiting edge, but he added, a coach needs to sell his school’s program and not try to win over recruits by tearing down another school with off the field issues.

Later he was asked about Bobby Petrino’s entrance into the SEC coaching fraternity. A reporter wanted to know if Tuberville held any ill will toward the former Louisville coach for the back room maneuvering that nearly cost Tuberville his job and inserted Petrino into the Auburn head coaching position at the same time.

Again, Tuberville took the high road, turning down a chance to vent before 704 reporters from across the nation, instead he pointed out that coaching is just a business and those type of things sometimes take place. He pointed out that he and Petrino have talked many times since then.

Hats off to Tuberville, too.