Saban ‘could give a s--- about all that’, Mr. Media Person

With the SEC looking squarely at a 13-team conference and an unbalanced schedule for at least 2012, one of the biggest concerns schools have is losing some of their traditional rivalries. Specifically, there is some significant concern that the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry will fall by the wayside, at least temporarily.

During his press conference Monday, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (pictured) was asked about what it would do to Alabama to have the annual rivalry game with the Vols off the slate. This line of questioning came after Saban was asked about what Mark Ingram‘s Heisman Trophy win in 2009 and the positive publicity it brought meant to the football program.

Apparently, Coach Woodcock did not appreciate what he saw as an attempt by the media to manufacture stories, with the answer to the Heisman question portending a verbal storm off on the horizon.

“I don’t think anybody was thinking about it. I don’t think anybody cares about it. I don’t think Trent [Richardson] cares about it. I think if you ask our players, and I don’t think about it either, it’s about ‘what do we have to do to help the team be successful? What do I need to do? What can I do?’ Our thoughts are completely different than your thoughts. Completely. So I don’t even know how to answer the question, to be honest with you. Trent is a great player. He’s one of the best players in the country. Whatever awards they give at the end of the season, he certainly should be considered for any and all of them that he qualifies for, but for right now, we’re thinking about what we need to do right now. We’re not even concerned about that stuff.”

The aforementioned verbal storm then proceeded to roll in as a reporter had the utter gall to brazenly ask about the future of the UT rivalry during the week leading up to, you guessed it, the UT game.

“You all create so many problems,” Saban said to the general press corps in attendance. “I hate to start on this, but whether guys are going out for the draft that shouldn’t even be thinking about that right now. Whether we’re worrying about the Heisman Trophy, now we’re worrying about playing Missouri rather than Tennessee some time down the road. I could give a s--- about all that, excuse my French.

“I mean, come on. Let’s talk about the game. What year are we talking about when we’re not gonna play Tennessee - 2025? I’m just hoping I can still go to the lake then, still can walk around and go on a pontoon boat ride.

OK then.

And way to go, Missouri. Your inability to spit or get off the conference pot in a timely manner has left Saban in full-blown “Media Terminator” mode. Any blood that’s shed is on your hands, Mizzou. Congrats. Hope you can live with yourself for the carnage you’ve wrought.