Apparently a recruit recorded a Zoom call with Nick Saban and posted it for the world to see and has Alabama fans and former players up in arms that someone would dare do that....
https://tdalabamamag.com/2021/01/31/nick-saban-alabama-players-disgusted...
Insights into how Saban does business
Somebody Recorded Nick Saban Pitching A Recruit On Zoom And Unsurprisingly It Was Amazing https://t.co/yzd6pKr26o— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 31, 2021
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The former players coming out against this seems pretty understandable. The recruiting process is about building relationships and deciding the best future for yourself. As for the video itself it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has been following recruiting at large. The word on Saban has always been that his primary pitch is the competition. You become the best by competing against the best, iron sharpens iron, etc.
I don't understand why people are upset. He didn't say anything crazy or controversial which is what I thought based on reactions I saw online.
Most of the people I've seen that are 'upset' about this have been former players and fans. They aren't mad at anything Saban said in the video. From what I've seen they think it's a betrayal of trust (recording someone without their knowledge), and using the video for social media clout on the part of the recruit.
For the record, the primary reaction to this video that I've seen has been pretty positive. The Alabama fans I know personally who saw this were basically like "that's our guy," and moved on with their lives.
I think it's more of a "don't tell anyone our secrets" kind of thing
I can't imagine a word of this is a secret to anyone with a moderate understanding of recruiting.
He didn't say anything that any normal, logical coach would say.....talk about accomplishments and shoot down potential recruiting pitches that other coaches would use.....didn't really say anything that would convince me to run through a wall for him. I was disappointed actually.....about the same personality as the commercials. Come to Bama, if you want to come and think that you're up to it.
Didn't Isaiah Ford do something similar when Muschamp was recruiting him after he had verbaled to us? Still cringeworthy...perhaps we should reserve judgement on this one
I can recall a player that released the call with Charley Wiles after he decommitted from us to go to (I think) Miami. That was a pretty weak move on his part, and I recall that we were all pissed that he did that.
Idk if Blue publicly released the call, but he had Coach Wiles on speaker with other people in the room and Coach wasn't made aware of it.
Hopefully this will finally dispel the notion of early playing time as a valid recruiting pitch for the best athletes. Yeah, sure... maybe it works every once in a while because of an athlete with special considerations... but for the most part it's noise... it's playing checkers.
I mean, in general unknowingly recording people is at a minimum unethical.
Anyways, the more interesting thing about this is (ironically) how boring it is. Saban is exhibiting nearly zero charisma, and it doesn't matter because the product is so good.
Based on everything I've read, every interview I've watched, Recruits care the most about getting to the NFL. If you can convince a 17 year old that you can put him in the NFL, then (in most cases) you can land him. If you want to go to the NFL, Bama is by far the best place to go. It would be much more interesting to see Mack Brown, or James Franklin, or someone else who has to sell a vision instead of a finished product.
Probably worth noting that this is with a 2022 prospect before the 2021 cycle has even closed. This is likely his boilerplate pitch he uses early on while getting acquainted with targets. I think it would be a lot more personal, and he would likely be giving a more emphatic pitch if he was closing on an elite target before signing day. I've seen it mentioned before that he is the closer on most of their big targets down the home stretch.
As to your last point, I would certainly like to see someone's 'vision of the future' pitch as well. That would be much more relevant to VT and who we are up against consistently.
Definitely worth knowing, I didn't know this.
Yupppp exactly where I was going with this. One of the things that's frustrates me about recruiting is that (as fans) we only see the results. It's impossible to identify the problem by the results alone.
You may consider it unethical, but Alabama is a one-party consent state. It doesn't matter if Saban or anybody knew he was being recorded, as long as the recruit did, although it may also depend on where that recruit was from.
Fascinating! I did not know this.
This video should be in Fu's inbox to review every morning for recruiting improvement class.
Kind of had the same thought. This should be a part of Recruiting 101 for any coach or recruiting staff member.
How to recruit well:
Phase 1: Win a natty
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Phase 1a: Go to a school with huge financial resources
Phase 1b: Go to a school near a recruiting hotbed(s)
Phase 1c: Go to a school with broad and deep alumni, fan and business support
Phase 1d: Go to a school with a storied history
all he said was...."look how many national championships we have won and played for....practicing against the best makes you better....Alabama has the most players in the league by far....I wouldn't be talking to you if I didn't think you could play here".....Fu can only really say one of those
Only Dabo can make that pitch.
although interesting to watch it isn't really a shock to anyone is it??
Come to Alabama...look how many championships we have, look how many players we put in the league...practice against the best b/c you'll be playing against lesser....
Again, interesting to watch but saw it and was like "Yup...that's what I'd say"
I would have loved to see his LSU or MSU pitches. He had a reputation back then if being a great recruiter. I can sell Alabama to an 18 year old. I couldn't sell MSU or LSU at the times he was there.
He still has that reputation. To my knowledge he is still the closer on their top prospects in tight battles late in the cycle, but this recording isn't a closing pitch (2022 recruit).
I also agree with that LSU/MSU pitch. It'd be very interesting to dissect that pitch.