Transcript of Alabama football coach Nick Saban talking Michigan at SEC media days
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has been asked about Alabama nearly every time a notebook has been in front of him this offseason.
Thursday, it was Nick Saban's turn.
Nick Saban shut out LSU to win a national championship that last time he coached for Alabama. Up next: Michigan.
Associated Press
"We've had a lot of national exposure that has really enhanced the development of our program, especially in the early years, by playing neutral-site games against very good national competition, whether it was Florida State in Jacksonville our first year, Clemson in Atlanta, or Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Penn State home and home the last couple years. Now having the opportunity to go play Michigan in Dallas, and we're going to come back to Atlanta and play Virginia Tech and West Virginia in the next two years. These are the kind of games we look for for national exposure.
"I think playing a great opponent like Michigan the first game of the season really enhances your players' sort of work ethic and preparation in the off-season because they know they're going to play a top-notch team right off the bat, and that's very challenging. That's kind of been the reasoning behind it.
"It's worked out well for us. But we know that Michigan is going to have an outstanding team and it will be a very challenging game for us this year."
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Tom
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
Satan will blow smoke up your butts. Then kick them. There is no threat!
azwolverine
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Tom, wouldn't it be nice to see D'antonio be able to reach his true potential, much like Saban did, by coaching a real program? Wow...he could be a great one. But alas...he's saddled with MSU and will, therefore, never compete for a NC or be considered a great coach on the national level like a Saban or a Hoke.
rich huttman
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
It should be interesting to see the spread. Nick Sabin is a great coach. I pick U of M by three points.
rightmind250
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:35 a.m.
point spread? spread formation? Not much of a gambler huh? When your team is the underdog you take UM with points. Just a little help in case you take your boast to vegas.
aarox
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
The only information here is that Nick said what a good coach is supposed to say. Not worth picking this apart.
A2D2
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.
Once a sparty, always a sparty.
Tom
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
Once a Walmart Wolverine; always a Walmart Wolverine! Where's the threat?
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
I like that Nick Saban snubbed Sparty because he knew he hand no chance of out-recruiting Michigan in the state of Michigan. :) That makes me smile.
Drew
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
Bored or Board? You sound like a true Sparty
Tom
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
No threat in Ann Arbor. 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 4 + 1 = 5 3 months from today the tears and excuses will be flowing on this Bored! Where's the threat?
garrisondyer
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
The threat, Tom, is where the opponent is, every game.
Tom
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 2:58 a.m.
Dantonio is 4-1 vs. UM in 5 years and lost a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter in 2007 or it would be 5-0. Saban was 1-4. Saban just didn't get it. He didn't want to play second fiddle to Izzo or Michigan. Dantonio a MUCH better fit for the MSU program. Where's the threat?
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
Reads like a lot of good coaches.....say nice things about your opponent. No bulletin board material.
BornInA2
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
"Neutral site" my butt. Dallas is going to be about as neutral as The Big House would be. Hail, hail! We will prevail.
rightmind250
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
That just means more people will be able to see the UM debacle.
Lifetime AA ND Fan
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 7 a.m.
Bcar, I'll take that bet.
Bcar
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
my in-laws are in Dallas. Id bet there will be more UM fans there than Bama... TONS of MI ex-pats there ;)
15crown00
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
Saban is a P.R. whore.
Scott
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.
Stinkin thinkin. Need to go see Stewart Smally to take that mean monkey off your back. :)
RWBill
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 3:53 a.m.
Yeah he was just outrageous.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
I'm no fan of Nick Saban but cut him a little slack, its SEC media days. Was he not supposed to show up and answer questions?