Long before Jalen Hurts became an NFL star, a CFB legend saw something special in him. In 2020, that coach, a man synonymous with championship DNA, spoke candidly about Hurts’ time at Alabama. He didn’t hold back, stating, “The guy’s got great character. He’s as fine a person as we’ve ever had in the program. He’s a very good leader. And he’s a hard worker, he’s well-liked by his teammates, and winning was important to him.” That coach? None other than Nick Saban. Although his words now feel prophetic, behind the praise lies a side of Saban, many don’t talk about—his ruthless approach to winning at all costs. But now, Nick Saban’s ruthless antics are exposed.
On the March 24th episode of Fox Sports Radio, Jay Glazer sat down with 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and Super Bowl champion, Andrew Whitworth. Here, the former LSU star didn’t hold back when discussing his time under Nick Saban. Whitworth pulled back the curtain on Saban’s intense leadership style, revealing that no one—not even the coaches—was safe from his wrath. “I got to LSU under Nick Saban. And Nick used to always say to the coaches—he wasn’t just hard on players. Like, people say all this stuff about him being hard on players. No, his sense of urgency every day was on every single person that came across his path. And it was coaches, players, and everything,” said Whitworth. So, Saban’s reputation for demanding perfection didn’t just apply to his players—it was a way of life for everyone in his orbit.
However, Nick Saban’s coaching wasn’t just about the tough moments—it had a lasting impact. Andrew Whitworth put it best, saying, “When I was at LSU, something that really taught me—I wasn’t a hard worker in school. I was a big kid who was really athletic. I played basketball in high school.” But that raw talent eventually turned into an elite NFL career. Whitworth spent 11 seasons with the Bengals and five with the Rams, winning a Super Bowl along the way. So, Saban’s influence on him was undeniable. But that didn’t mean Whitworth held back on the truth about his coaching style.
Here, the ex-LSU star laid it all out, stating, “If you were in a practice and I messed up who I was supposed to block, or I was tired, throwing up, and I had to be taken out of the drill—you know, he wouldn’t come after me. He would go to my O-line coach, and he would rip that O-line coach right in front of the whole entire team. And his philosophy was always, you either coach it or you allow it.” As of now, Saban’s intensity wasn’t just about discipline—it was about accountability. And for players like Whitworth, it made all the difference.
For Whitworth, Saban’s lessons weren’t just about football—they became life principles. “And so, to me, I apply it this way—every day, I am either choosing and coaching myself to be a certain human being, or I am allowing myself to be this way today,” said the LSU star. Look, discipline wasn’t just for the field; it shaped Whitworth’s mindset. “And so, I got to make a choice every day. Like, hey, you know what? I can allow myself to say, ‘Today kind of feels like a lay-in-the-bed day. Today kind of feels like I drop the kids off and go have a couple of drinks,” said Andrew.
Let’s be real, Saban’s philosophy stuck with him—accountability is everything, whether in football or life, you either coach it or allow it. And here, Whitworth stressed the power of discipline, a lesson he took from Saban’s coaching. He explained that short-term fun often leads to next-day regret. “I’m going to end up tomorrow being mad at myself,” admitted the ex-LSU star. So, instead of chasing huge goals, he urged focusing on small, daily habits, saying, “You just got to start one little good habit and let it lead to another.”
Saban’s coaching may be ruthless, but it’s undeniably effective. Now, an ex-Saban assistant opened up about his addiction battle—revealing how Saban helped him turn his life around.
Nick Saban’s collaboration in building a dynasty
A dynasty isn’t built alone, and Scott Cochran was proof. For 13 years, he helped power Alabama’s dominance, shaping players and securing five national titles. On The Triple Option podcast, he revealed his hidden battle—crushing migraines during the Tide’s back-to-back championships in 2012. Yet, his relentless energy never wavered, earning him the nickname ‘Coach Yeah’. You can say his fire and passion never faded, even in pain.
However, Scott Cochran’s relentless migraines started in 2009, and doctors advised him to stop yelling—an impossible ask for the fiery coach. On top of that, nothing seemed to work until he was prescribed Oxy, with a clear warning about its addictive nature. That’s when his battle with addiction began. But he wasn’t alone. Nick Saban, a coach known for demanding excellence, became a crucial figure in his recovery, proving that his leadership extended far beyond the football field.
Look, after shaping LSU under Saban, ‘Coach Yeah’ reunited with him at Alabama, becoming a key force behind the Tide’s dominance. From 2007 to 2019, he led the strength and conditioning program, molding players into champions. Consequently, Saban’s dynasty wasn’t just built on strategy—it thrived on relentless preparation. So, don’t judge a head coach by his coaching style alone.
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