Nick Saban emphasizes the mindset Alabama must maintain after big win over Georgia

Alabama recorded the biggest win of the Kalen DeBoer era and arguably the biggest win of the college football season last Saturday, holding off Georgia in a top-5 showdown.

Former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban feels that maintaining the correct mindset is going to be tough for Alabama after the emotional win against the Bulldogs. Saban spoke on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning about Alabama needing to continue to play with an edge after the hard-fought victory.

“Well, what I always tried to do was make a decision about what I was going to say after the game on Friday, whether we won or whether we lost,” Nick Saban said. “Because I wanted to try to eliminate a relief syndrome or a letdown.

“So relief syndrome to me is, we win a big game, now we want to rest on our laurels, which is really kind of human nature. So you wanted to try to have a 24-hour rule where you put that game behind you, and you can refocus on the next game so your performance doesn’t go down hill.”

Alabama is in an obvious letdown spot this week, facing off against Vanderbilt on the road. The Crimson Tide could have as many fans in Nashville as Vanderbilt, and the crowd will be nothing like the raucous one that was in Tuscaloosa last weekend.

Saban believes it will be challenging for Alabama to show up with the same type of intensity against Vanderbilt that it had against Georgia.

“You lose your edge, your performance dissipates rapidly. And that’s what you want to try to eliminate in the season is having ups and downs,” Saban said.

He added that it’s easier to rebound from a tough, heartbreaking loss than it is to get ready to play again after an emotional, exciting win.

“I think it’s tougher for when you have a big win,” Saban said. “I think when you have a loss and players are disappointed, just human nature that everybody seems to respond better when you have a thunderbolt, something bad happens. Everybody’s willing to make the changes they need to make to get it right. And I think Georgia will respond in a really positive way.”

The Bulldogs are hosting Auburn this weekend in a rivalry game as they look to bounce back. The Tigers come in reeling having lost to all three power conference opponents they have faced this year. Saban expects Georgia to take care of business against the Tigers.