re: (tl;dr warning) Nick Saban vs. Les Miles: Should we pity Nick? Realtalk...

Contrasting Saban's post-BCS meeting with the players, and the story of how he went back to his hotel room after, is the story of Les doing his big "whoop" cheer at the postgame presser and going down to the French Quarter Balcony with the trophy and having a great time.

Then you watch the video of him and his kids playing basketball (and the old P&G Converse hi-tops).

I appreciated Saban, but I love Les.

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GFunk

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Did read (I actually have an attention span beyond thirty seconds) and do agree.

Good observations and right on the money.

Both are tremendously successful at what they are doing. One enjoys what he is doing, the other does not. It is that simple.

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I appreciated Saban, but I love Les.

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+1

I think this is dead on. I would even go so far as to say that Miles' faith is a difference maker here....he has the long-term perspective. He knows it isn't all about football, or even success in life...but something much bigger.

Additionally, I would venture that the unfortunate combination of an unpleasable a-hole father (which he likely has himself become) and his inability to produce children of his own (which I know FOR SURE bothers him endlessly) has produced this incredibly insecure man who utilizes control to acheive a level of sanity for himself....sanity in success. He MUST have it to survive and self-validate that massive hole he walks around with, which is self-acceptance/esteem and personal value. Miles gets this from another place (I believe, God) and is therefore able to "enjoy" (forgive the pun) his successes and his life.

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himself

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first of all, it is herself

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the evaluation of another he doesn't even know

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Secondly, you are right....I don't spend a lot of personal time with Nick. This is based off of my very close relationship with several people who have spent time with him every day for several years and others who know Miles on a spiritual and professional level. So while it is not first hand knowledge, it is certainly true.

If you weren't saying that, then my apologies, but you sure didn't go out of your way based on what I read to make the clear differentiation that both methods are effective. It appeared to me to be a veiled attempt at casting Miles in a more positive light because "he's a good guy". If you didn't do that, then ignore my response directly to you, but I still stand by my response based on what I have read from others on here. Since I didn't quote you directly you can consider that a non response to you.

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I have the exact same personality. I can tell you, at this moment, what I will be doing at 333PM today. If not, I will lose it.

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Dude, I used to be anual about stuff, but I have to tell you that life is too short to worry about the little stuff! The older I get, the less OCD I am..............and having a baby at 38 also mellowed me out big time!!! Oh yeah and I had one at 24 also! I am much less worried about the little things and what people think now too!

As I've said on these boards before, I liked Nick when he coached LSU, understood when he tried his hand at the NFL and understood that he wanted to get back into college coaching and that Bama was by far the best situation for him. I don't really hold anything against him personally, although it was difficult to see him at Bama at first.

The way he conducts his personal/business life is how he has chosen for himself. There are some that have been around him that get bent out of shape about it, and others who always like him. Obviously, he has enough personality to be the best recruiter in college football (Les is right up there too).

Of course, this week, I hate that sonofabitch.

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It is a toss up for me who I'd want long term at this point.

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Well goddamn. If its a toss-up why not just go with the guy that's already here

Look at the message people like Sean Payton, Skip Bertman and Les Miles put forward, you can be successful, and achieve the highest goals of your profession, without making yourself and everyone around you miserable.

I had the feeling the Skip didn't exactly go chasing Nickie down the street with a better offer, people I know in the AD said his act had worn a little thin. I think Skip recognized Saban's fatal flaw, he would not commit to the program, he always wanted to keep the back door open, the top recruits would always be told Nickie was NFL bound.

To get where we are today, we needed Saban to come, then we needed him to leave.