Alabama Football: Something Nick Saban might want to consider

There are two broadly divergent perspectives on how the Alabama Football fanbase should respond to the loss in College Station. One is sound, based on Crimson Tide history in the Saban-Era. It is that back-to-back undefeated seasons are such a rarity, the Tide was almost guaranteed to lose sometime this season. Losing earlier than later is always better. Attached to this perspective is confidence Nick Saban knows how to take the Tide forward, fixing its current flaws. Those comfortable with this perspective believe worrying about the CFB Playoff is premature and that enough losses by other teams will open the door to the Crimson Tide.

The polar opposite perspective is driven by a strong sense that even as a fan, attention to detail matters. There is no lack of confidence in Nick Saban. Now, probably having to run the table by winning the six remaining regular-season games and the SEC Championship game means nothing can be left to chance.

Both perspectives have merit. They are not simply glass half-full and half-empty dualities. Both are driven by anticipation of future outcomes. For those seeking insight into a plan, a couple of suggestions are offered.

One involves a dose of reality. Pete Thamel had thoughts about the Tide performance Saturday night and he was not wrong.

"We’ll all remember watching No. 1 Alabama look like Keystone Cops in the waning minutes of a 41-38 loss at unranked Texas A&M. We’ll remember a critical dropped pass by ‘Bama tight end Jahleel Billingsley, and the Tide bumbling through a final defensive drive with defenders crashing into one another and a critical pass interference penalty by DeMarcco Hellams. That enabled a 28-yard chip-shot game winner …"

Thamel’s assessment might rankle Saban a bit, but the Alabama Football headman knows and is willing to say his team needs to ‘fix’ many things. No doubt that process is well underway in Tuscaloosa.

In the context of a future CFB Playoff selection, the ‘fixing’ process needs to show quick and lasting results.

Alabama Football and Eye Tests

The other suggestion is for Nick Saban to pay attention to more than winning. It is not known to what extent the CFB Selection Committee gives credence to media opinions. We do know that consistent with their core mandate of ‘choosing the best four teams’ they use more than conference championships and analytics to make their selections. They use the ‘eye test’, meaning they watch many games and use what they see in their selection process. In 2017, it was an eye test that tipped the Playoff scales in favor of the Crimson Tide over Ohio State.

What Selection Committee eyes saw from College Station Saturday night was closer to what Thamel described than a picture of a Playoff worthy team. Between now and the first rankings released by the committee on Nov. 2, the Crimson Tide needs to not, just win, it needs to look like a Playoff team while winning. Leaving nothing to chance, that first ranking must include the Crimson Tide at no lower than No. 5.

Though Nick Saban hates doing it (except maybe against Auburn and Tuberville once) going forward through the regular season, the Tide needs quality points in wins. Other than against hapless New Mexico State, eye-catching margins of victory should not just be allowed, they should be encouraged.

Would Nick Saban ever heed such a suggestion? Not likely is the correct answer. He has so much respect for the game and his fellow coaches, piling points on them will never occur.