Nick Saban determined to keep Alabama grounded aga

ATLANTA Ever notice how Alabama never wears an alternate uniform? Same jersey, same pants, same helmet.The only changeto that design sinceSaban'sarrival is the number on the side of the Alabama helmet the number of titles Alabama claims. It's "17" now, for those counting.That matches the number of SEC Media Days addre sesSabanhas delivered too, between stints at LSU and Alabama. One thing that hasn't changed?That near-mythical "Proce s."MORE: "We have a uniform at Alabama,"Sabansaid at SEC Media Days on Wednesday."It doesn't change much. It doesn't reveal anything, and that's kind of who we are."Saban'sshow, Saban's me sage. This time, his goal was to quash any and all predetermined narratives about the Crimson Tide heading into the 2018 college football season. Yes, the Crimson Tide will be ranked No. 1, picked Clayton Thorson Jersey to win the SEC and pegged for anotherCollege Football Playoff. Yes,Sabancan win a seventh national championship, which would eclipse legendary coach Bear "Bear" Bryant.Sabanused variations of the word determine determined, predetermined, determines, determining a total of 13 times in his news conference at the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. That's because he's determined to keep a young, loaded team grounded and gue sing in the face of overwhelming gue swork and hyperbole."Are we going to have the leadership that we need to have a very good team?"Sabansaid in a me sage more for his team than for media."Are we going to have the personnel developed to fill some of the holes that were created by players moving to the Josh Sweat Jersey next level, players'graduation, and a lot of these things have not taken shape yet?Soit's a work in progre s."It's"The Proce s"of course, whichSabancontinues to remaster with each season with countle s four- and five-star recruits who take different three-, four- and sometimes five-year paths to the NFL. The Crimson Tide have had 73 players drafted, including 25 first-round picks, since 2010. He's doing all that while selling life after football for those who don't make it."We've had 126 players in the last five years play their last game at Alabama with a degree,"Sabansaid."That means we've had a significant number of players graduate in three-and-a-half-years."MORE: Of course, there are some things even Saban can't control like the number of questions lobbed at him about the pending quarterback battle between Jalen Hurts and TuaTagovailoa."I think the number one thing that you will want to talk about is the quarterback controversy that you'd love to create, that you've already created, that you will continue to create, and I will tell you the same thing exists there,"Sabansaid."It Brian Dawkins Jersey 's still to be determined as to who is going to play quarterback for Alabama."Cla sicSaban. Deflecting a so-called problem, in which one of his quarterbacks is 26-2 as a starter and the other led a thrilling comeback in last year's 26-23 victory against Georgia in the College Football Playoff championship game. The plan for now is to have both contribute, but don't expect to know the starter until the first series against Louisville on Sept. 1.There's also a refurbished coaching staff, which features offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. Saban attacked thepredetermined notions about his coaching staff, too."One of the reasons I think people misjudge my reason for having staff size and having lots of interns is I like to help develop those coaches so when they go somewhere else and coach, I can hire them back someday,"Sabansaid."I'd rather have somebody I know as a person."Soit's Jordan Howard Jersey busine s as usual, andSabanhas shown no signs of slowing down something to which his wife, Saban said,has no objections."Mi s Terry does not want me home,"he said."I can tell you that. She doesn't care if I'm 60, 70 or 80. I really enjoy what I'm doing right now, and as long as I'm healthy I'm going to continue to do it and not worry about any numbers."MORE: For the record, he'll turn 67 in October. He'll be in position to pile on more numbers for Greg Sankey to add in new year's SEC Media Days addre s. No coachsets the tone of a college football season quite likeSaban, and it has been proven for the last decade that the season doesn't really start until Alabama loses."Is that it?"Sabanasked at the end of his news conference."Thank you all. Appreciate it. It Jerome Brown Jersey was easy today."Sabanwrapped up his remarks before turning past that "17"-emblazonedhelmet and walking off the podium toward a run at No. 18. He won't notice that number either. A truism in football is to take it "game by game." With Saban, it could very well be fact might be talking about the uniform, but it's a better description for himself.He doesn't change much, even if his schemes, coaches and players do. He doesn't reveal anything, unle s he wants to.It's who he is, and he's determined as ever to keep it that way.