Nick Saban Doesn't Like to Hug?
ATHENS - The truth about Alabama head coach Nick Saban has come out.
He doesn’t like to hug - shocking I know.
Turns out that Isaiah Wilson, former UGA starter and 1st Round NFL Draft pick was committed to the Tide before coming to UGA, but backed off over a hug.
Turns out Lord Saban isn’t very touchy feely.
During an interview with Barstool Sports, Wilson said that he was “committed to Bama for a long time”, but that he backed away.
Why?
“Nick Saban didn't give me a hug.”
COMPETE!
If you’ve been around the jolly monster that is Isaiah Wilson long enough you know that he, like most non-robot humans, has feelings. He likes to have a good time. If you watched his live commitment ceremony in the winter of 2016 you know that Wilson is able to find fun - even if it comes during a private school talent show.
If you are not currently a Premium subscriber, what are you waiting for? Our team is producing a ton of great content every day and this is your chance to get it ALL for just two bucks!
$2 for Two Months of Dawg Post Sign Up Now
Different things work for different recruits. We have seen this over time. Some things matter more for certain players. This is also true: there is no doubting Nick Saban’s recruiting prowess. No one has been a better recruiter for a longer period of time.
No one.
Bear Bryant got pretty much anyone he wanted back in the day because the Bear was going to put guys on swimming scholarships to play football. The NCAA changed the rules because of that. And yet Saban dominated recruiting with those rules in place, and with the stakes of recruiting never being higher.
But there has been one thing that Saban has lost over the last few years - a certain pugnacious blonde who took over next door.
Losing Kirby Smart has hurt Saban and the Tide. Before and afters are easy to look at - Bama national titles with Kirby… four; without? One. Recruiting? The Tide still rolls, but not quite like it used to - in fact, the Dawgs just ended the 2020 cycle with the No. 1 class in the country.
And while we now know, 100%, that Saban isn’t a hugger. We know - if we didn’t already - that Kirby is. When asked if Kirby gave that much-needed hug, Wilson responded:
“You better believe he did.”
I have seen Kirby post game with players after big wins. There are some The Notebook-level eyes being made on the gridiron after games. I totally believe he hugged Wilson - and celebrated. Because Kirby knows how to do that for sure.
Hugs or not, Saban’s methods - formal and perhaps stiff - have worked. Kirby’s have, too.
But I’m certain Kirby wants to hug the national title trophy like Saban has so many times as head coach.