Saban On The Cover of Forbes

I have been hearing all day about the Saban article in which he is also on the cover of Forbes. This is a pretty big distinction not only because it labels him as The Most Powerful Coach in Sports, but also because he is the first ever coach to make the cover of the magazine which was founded in 1917.

The second distinction I gave you is the most important of the two. Although the way Forbes decided he was The Most Powerful Coach In Sports was through a mathematical formula, it was a formula they created though mathematical variables they feel are important. These variable are an opinion.

I also have a feeling that too many people who follow sports, this is not a big dealto them unless they are fans of an SEC school. Why not a big deal to the rest of the nation? Let me answer that questions with a question. How many people do you know that actually subscribe to Forbes? How many of you actually read more than five copies of Forbes before the Saban issue?

Many have started to question whether the article is a negative for Alabama Football and I say that is To Be Determined. The determining factor is how fans would react if we had an 8-4 or 9-3 season (which to me 9-3 is not bad). It is important to remember that just because out coach is on the cover of Forbes, we are still a work in progress.

I really enjoyed the article and I thought I would give you some excerpts that I feel put to rest many negative rumors people use to put Saban in a negative light.

Football finances 77% of the athletic department, bankrolling nonrevenue sports like swimming and softball. It also has kicked back millions of dollars to university academic programs

Why do Ivy League schools even bother to field teams that are never going to win a bowl game? It keeps the alumni money flowing. That's how you pay for the English department

-University of Alabama president, Robert Witt

Witt can also argue that not a penny of Saban's salary comes from either students or taxpayers. It comes from Athletic department revenue, which consists of broadcasting fees, as sponsors, donations from "boosters"...ticket sales and shoe and apparel endorsements.

While with the Dolphins, he turned down an invitation to dine with President Bush so as not to miss practice.

I find it hard to believe that many coaches would be so determined to win that they would turn down dinner with the President.