Report: Nick Saban admits his controversial SEC pick had some extra motives
Nick Saban surprised many last month when he didn’t select Alabama for the SEC Championship this season, and now he’s revealing that there was a strategic reason behind it.
In a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban admitted he used “reverse rat poison” by picking Georgia and Texas to play in the SEC title game. He explained that he dislikes predicting outcomes or making hypothetical choices about who will win games or championships. By picking Georgia and Texas, he aimed to motivate Alabama by not selecting them, thus avoiding the potential psychological effects of being named a top contender. Saban wanted to prevent his players from feeling overly confident or influenced by external praise.
Though Saban is retired, his old strategies still apply, showing that he’s keen on impacting Alabama’s performance positively. Initial responses suggest his approach may be working, but if Alabama starts winning, they will quickly become favorites in the SEC.
"I picked Georgia and Texas because it's reverse rat poison for Alabama..
It's a motivating factor for them" ~ Nick Saban#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/gFQolXJ0lh
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 23, 2024