Tide Coach Compares 9/11, Pearl Harbor to Alabama Loss

Argues catastrophe breeds resolve
By Lev Weinstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 21, 2007 1:23 AM CST
Tide Coach Compares 9/11, Pearl Harbor to Alabama Loss
Alabama coach Nick Saban watches from the sidelines against Georgia during the second half of a football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)   (Associated Press)

Alabama Coach Nick Saban may have pushed the metaphor too far, raising the specters of some of the darkest moments in American history in reference to Saturday's humiliating loss to LA-Monroe. "Changes in history usually come from a catastrophic event...it may be 9/11...Pearl Harbor kind of got us ready for World War II," he said during Monday's press conference.

Saban's comments were defended by spokesman Jeff Purintin, who argued "What Coach Saban said did not correlate losing a football game with tragedy, people need to understand that." Saban also compared the Crimson Tide to alcoholics "...who never ever change until they hit rock bottom" during the press conference, coming in the days leading up to the weekend's "Iron Bowl" matchup against historic rival Auburn. (More Alabama Crimson Tide stories.)

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