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11.20.2021 KEYS TO VICTORY No one would argue that Paul "Bear Bryant and Nick Saban coached at Alabama during different eras. Bryant's 25-year run (1958- 82) was before the Internet and during the glory days of the newspaper business. Saban has been at Alabama since 2007, clearly the era of social media and instant, massive TV access. That's one thing that makes the two Alabama coaching icons different. There was confirmation this week from the one man still working that had direct working knowledge with both. The man who once wrote his senior thesis on the comparisons of press relations between Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson agreed to answer my questions this week about Bryant and Saban. I did not want founder of Bama Magazine, probably the best and most famous of the fan magazines, to pick one coach over the other. He wouldn't if I asked. But Kirk McNair did get into the details of what makes both of them great. And, make no mistake, both were the best of their time. Everyone knows that Saban now leads Bryant, 7-6, in national championships won. But Saban has won most of his in the playoff era, whereas many of Bryant's were shared or disputed in the days of polls deciding titles. For instance, Arkansas was named the national champion by the Football Writers Association of America in 1964 after Texas beat Alabama in the Orange Bowl. Alabama was awarded The Associated Press title that year. The results of that season forced the polls to wait until after the bowls to name their champion. McNair and I do not discuss those issues. They were what they were. I wanted Bryant stories and no one is better today with them than McNair, for 12 years the football contact in the Alabama sports information office. Bryant tried to talk him out of starting Bama Magazine in 1979, although the coach was supportive. "He wanted to make sure I did my due diligence and said he hoped I'd stay (at Alabama)," McNair said. Forty-two years later, it's clear it was the right move. McNair, who recently went to Bama On-line with the national website 247, is the authority on Alabama football and one of my best friends in the business. I look forward to our time in the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box before the Arkansas-Alabama game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Early in the life of Hawgs Illustrated magazine almost 30 years ago, I sought McNair as a mentor and he obliged. Clearly, we were not competitors. He didn't mind providing tips on the pitfalls. We put our brains together on how to solve U.S. Postal Service issues. We've never done it. Over the last three decades we've spent many hours together at publisher's meetings and compared notes on the coaching legends in our background. Because Frank Broyles and Bryant traded grad assistants in the 1970s, we have common friends like Louis Campbell. One of the first questions McNair asked this week, "How is Louis?" He knows we are close fishing buddies. There is much respect between the two, perhaps one of the reasons I really like McNair. It was a privilege to pick his brain about Bryant and Saban. He said they are alike and different. "Really, they were not alike in many areas, but alike in two important ways," he said. "They both had the ability to make everyone believe that what they were doing was the right thing. You got that feel with Bear and Nick that everyone was on board. They made everyone in the building believe in their way. "No. 2, they were both incredibly smart. The IQ of each is off the charts. They see things that others do not and it is pretty obvious." Then there are some obvious differences. "Bear did not coach players," McNair said. "He coached coaches. He watched practice from a tower. If he came down, it was for a bad reason. He wanted to change something. "Now, we don't get to watch a Saban practice, but he does coach a position, the corners. He's had great success as a head coach doing that. I've always been curious how he also knew exactly what the quarterback was doing while coaching a position, but he does." How they conducted practice is similar. Almost all practices are in full pads. Both conducted long scrimmages, especially in August. "Both understood that you need to practice hard," McNair said. "That means you will have injuries. "I can recall a time when Saban got a good player hurt in an early practice. He was visibly upset, but he said, 'I don't know another way to do it.' You have to practice tough." Alabama practices are padded Monday through Thursday most weeks. Bryant's were almost the same. Both coaches used Sunday as an off day, although players report to the training room and lift weights. "I know there are some teams that hardly put on pads in these times," McNair said. "I do know there is not just one way to do things, but Bryant and Saban both practiced hard." It's interesting that Arkansas coach Sam Pittman has adopted a similar practice schedule, something he learned from Kirby Smart at Georgia. Obviously, Smart brought the same practice schedule from Alabama to Georgia. Clearly, one of the main differences was their media relationships. Bryant was legendary for holding court with media, much like I saw Broyles do at Arkansas. "We live in a different time," McNair said. "When I was with Bear, it was a time when it was mainly the newspaper writers who got the news out. TV might come do an interview, but it was usually the next day before they got it on the air. "So Bear kowtowed to the newspaper guys. They were No. 1 with him. "Saban is all about the national TV coverage. He just tolerates the local guys. He might use them at times to get his message out to fans. But that's about it." McNair recalls a time when Bryant closed a scrimmage to the public, a rare happening. "Scrimmages were open, as were practices," McNair said. "Fans could come. But mostly, not many people came because they tended to be boring. "But there was a time when Bear wanted to do something behind closed doors. He told me to close it. So I called all the media, Birmingham and local, and told them they couldn't come and to get the word out that the public couldn't come. "I think it was a Saturday scrimmage. At the end of the scrimmage — and no one was there, not even the car dealers that were friends to the coaches — Bear walked over to me with one question: Where are the reporters? "I told him, 'You closed practice.' He said, 'I didn't mean them. They are friends.'" With cell phone video now available to any visitors and the temptation great to break a story, Saban is like most college coaches. It's a no go for almost anyone to watch practice. Both Bryant and Saban focused resources and efforts to recruiting. Bryant was more about home-grown talent. Saban is national in scope with recruiting. "There were exceptions, but the closer to home the better for Bear," McNair said. "He thought it was harder to go home if you were close and by that he meant quit. You would always be talked about around town as quitting at Alabama if you did that. "But he did have some from out of state. Obviously, Joe Namath was from Pennsylvania. "With Alabama being on TV every week, Saban will go anywhere to recruit. "Another difference, Saban really thinks it is important how well his players do in the NFL. Bear wasn't that aware of it. Both understood that the better players you recruit, the better coaches you become." Campbell has told stories about Bryant handling every substitution when he worked under him on the Alabama staff. "Saban is a micro manager, but I don't know how much he handles all the substitutions like Bryant," McNair said. "But I suspect Saban is aware of depth chart changes. Bear posted those depth charts before the game, but he did take input in staff meetings. I try to watch Saban to see if he handles substitution, but I can't tell. "Bryant's belief was that when a player saw he was demoted on the depth chart, he'd get mad and try to go back to work. It was effective." Obviously, Saban is not afraid to make a change. He benched quarterback Jalen Hurts at halftime of the national title game against Georgia in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. "It didn't work immediately," McNair said. "Tua was terrible on the first two possessions. He threw an interception. But it turned out right." That's the jumping off point to discuss the weekly 10 keys to victory. How it's going to turn out at quarterback is always a great place to start, with the best pass rushers next. KJ JEFFERSON The sophomore Arkansas quarterback was the difference in the 16-13 overtime victory over LSU. On a night when defenses ruled, Jefferson completed 18 of 25 passes for 125 yards. He also led the Hogs in rushing with a net of 41 yards, 63 before three sacks were subtracted. It's Jefferson's ability to remain cool under pressure that gives the Hogs a chance at Tuscaloosa. He is completing 65% of his passes on the season, the exact number that offensive coordinator Kendal Briles said this summer was the goal. Jefferson had to dodge blitzes most of the game. Pittman said Briles improved the protections somewhat in the second half with some slides in the offensive line. But the Hogs have to improve in their pickups against Alabama. There was no finger pointing by Jefferson. He said his charge from Briles all along has been that there will be times there is one more rusher than blockers and that's when he needs to make someone miss. BRYCE YOUNG While Jefferson is a third- year player, Alabama will counter with a second-year quarterback. Young is a true sophomore who played a lot in mop-up duty last year behind Mac Jones. If there were any doubts about Young's ability to step up in the role of Alabama's leader, they were wiped away in the opener. Young threw for four touchdowns in the first game against Miami, the most COMMENTARY BRYANT, SABAN SHARE WINNING TRAITS CLAY HENRY See KEYS, Page 4 Nick Saban is unique as a head coach in that he coaches the cornerbacks for the Crimson Tide. Vasha Hunt/AP 479-287-6205 www.surfcorestoration.com • Water Damage • Mold Remediation • Asbestos Abatement • Asbestos Testing • Commercial Building • Sanitizing • Construction Located in Fayetteville, serving Northwest Arkansas, the River Valley and surrounding areas On game day, call the Hogs. If you need plumbing, electrical, or AC repair, call Bud Anderson! 479-323-1358 Protect your home with a razorback ® Shield of Protection • Guaranteed appointments within 48 hours of service request • 2 FREE precision tune-ups • FREE plumbing inspection • 20% discount on all repairs • FREE diagnostic fee • $100/year loyalty credit towards purchase of a new system, up to $800 Visit us in Hogtown to receive special offers and promotions! Visit our tent to receive free giveaways, prizes and enter for a chance to win tickets to future Razorback ® games. Kirk McNair (left) and Paul "Bear" Bryant visit at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., the day before the 1971 Alabama-Tennessee football game. Photo courtesy Kirk McNair

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