Nick Saban sends strong message to Alabama players following Tennessee loss

Alabama is coming off a tough loss at Tennessee, the first of the season and one that leaves the Crimson Tide trailing Ole Miss by a half game in the SEC West standings. Coach Nick Saban sent a strong message to Alabama players on Monday.

The players who can’t play the right way won’t play much more.

“We can’t continue to tolerate guys that aren’t doing the things they need to do to be successful,” Saban said. “Nobody’s entitled to a position. Everybody’s earned the position that they’re in by showing that they have the capability and ability to do it on a consistent basis.”

To that end, Alabama has been wildly sloppy by Saban’s lofty standards. Penalties have been a recurring problem, with the Crimson Tide ranking 129th (of 131) in the FBS in penalties per game and 128th in penalty yardage per game.

Saban knows re-emphasizing that jobs are on the line constantly is one of the ways you set the standards for what is acceptable and what isn’t. Coaches have to coach it that way, but players also have to embrace the approach.

“It’s both. It’s both, Saban said. “And everybody responds differently, I think you’re exactly right. …

“That’s something that you have to continue, and the grind of the season, being the middle of the season, being a little bit hurt, tired, whatever, can’t lose your focus on doing the things you need to do to continue to improve and get better because other people are looking at your flaws, too.”

Message to Alabama players: Improvement is like wood work

Saban had an interesting metaphor for his players, a parable if you will, on the importance of recognizing your own issues and then working to address them.

If you’re not, someone will find ways to exploit them.

“I told the players a little story about a carpenter has a special light that he — finished carpenter — to see if the wood is exactly what he wants it to be,” Saban said. “He’s looking for flaws in the wood.

“Well people are looking for flaws in you, whether it’s how you block, how you tackle, how you cover, whatever it is you do. How we cover punts, whatever it is we do. We have to be aware of that and know that we need to correct these things so they don’t become issues for us in the future.”

The Crimson Tide still have everything to play for. Alabama dropped to No. 6 in the AP Top 25, still well in contention in the SEC West with only Ole Miss unbeaten in the division.

Alabama and Ole Miss will meet in Oxford, Miss., on Nov. 12. First, Saban and his squad have a lot of other issues to fix.

The first test up after the loss to Tennessee will come this weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a home date with No. 24 Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs will kick off at 7 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN.