Nick Saban addresses how Alabama is educating players to avoid issues off the field

Nick Saban does everything he can to make sure his Alabama football team avoids issues off the field. Sometimes, it just happens, regardless of the situation and that can go for any program.

Saban regularly brings in speakers throughout fall camp to talk about a variety of issues in college football. Whether it’s on-the-field, NIL, transferring or the trouble off it, Saban tries to cover all of his bases.

It’s early August, so there’s more to come from Saban. But he wants to make sure his players are covered.

“Well, we try to get the best speakers that we possibly can that address issues that we’re facing in college football,” Saban said. “As well as people who can help create a mindset that’s going to help you be more consistent, so that you can get the results that you want, relative to the commitments that you make. 

“I think we have a really good blend of all those types of people. Obviously, you guys know what the issues are. And you know, if you look at players that are suspended for whether it’s gambling, drugs, and alcohol, whatever, so those are all things that we’re trying to educate players on, relative to consequences of good and bad behavior cause and effect. 

Saban continued that each player is different but the consequences of bad decisions are a domino effect. So the Alabama coach really wanted to get that message across to his team.

“Because we don’t want anybody to suffer negative consequences that might have an impact and affect their brand and that all goes to the choices and decisions that they make,” Saban said. “And if we can impact those through education with good speakers, that’s the goal of what we try to do throughout the year. But it’s the same thing, it’s more condensed in fall camp.”

Nick Saban continues to educate Alabama players in fall camp

Fall camp speakers are just one way to ensure good habits. But that’s what Saban chalked up Alabama’s camp to be about: habits.

“Obviously, the No. 1 purpose of fall camp practice is to create good habits,” Saban said. “Obviously, bad habits have a cost. Good habits have a price, but you’ve got to pay the price for these good habits up front, which is obviously what you do when fall camp comes along. This is a time when you have to sort of embrace the grind.

“We’ve got some players who have been blessed with talent, but it only comes to fruition if you can embrace the grind and can’t view the circumstances not as an obstacle but an opportunity to focus in difficult circumstances and difficult situations so that this will be an advantage to you to be able to sustain, you know, in the future.”