Nick Saban had a cryptic message for Mark Sears and Alabama basketball team, claims college reporter Myron Medcalf
Returning senior Mark Sears shares the cryptic piece of advice ESPN's college analyst Nick Saban gave to the entire Alabama basketball crew. Saban is considered one of the best football coaches and is a legend at Alabama. He has a 297-71 (1 tie) overall record behind seven national championships (6 with Crimson Tide).
Coaches from different sports often meet with rosters to inspire players. It is a common practice before the commencement of a new season or before a high-stakes game.
According to ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Sears stated that Saban's only advice for Alabama was to stay away from "rat poison."
"Alabama star Mark Sears said Nick Saban spoke with the team this summer. Saban's biggest message? "The rat poison. Stay away from all the rat poison," Medcalf wrote.
Apart from his records, Saban is known for his culture sparking leadership. He brought a certain philosophy to Alabama, which not only encouraged cohesive and organizational growth but also held everyone accountable.
Saban could have used the term "rat poison" to refer to external noise and media narratives about a player or a team. During his coaching years, he used the term a lot, citing that it can negatively impact a player's mindset and performance on the gridiron.
Mark Sears and Alabama recognized in preseason polls
Mark Sears is probably the best fifth-year player on the college circuit right now and the most experienced veteran. According to the announcement on Monday, Sears was named as the SEC Player of the Year. The ranking was determined by a CBS poll, where the representatives inquired more than 100 Division I coaches about their choice for the best college hooper.
He was also given the First Team All-SEC honors along with Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee) and Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M). Moreover, the Crimson Tide emerged as the top team in the competitive SEC.
In the released Associated Press Top-25 poll, Alabama is ranked second in the preseason listings, while the UConn Huskies, the back-to-back D1 champion, are listed third.