Saban takes turn at SEC Media Days

HOOVER | Nick Saban never fails to draw a crowd. From the lobby to the ballroom, Saban is a rockstar at the Southeastern Conference Media Days.

Saban fielded questions ranging from championship rings to scheduling inequalities to rule changes to his legacy stacked against Coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant.

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The main topic of the SEC Media Days has been rule changes to allow defensive substitutions against no-huddle, hurry-up offenses. Saban weighed in Thursday.

"I don't have the answer but my question is should we allow football to be a continuous game? Was it designed that way? I don't have the answers to that," Saban said.

Saban also touched on the issues of scheduling inequalities in the 6-1-1 model that has Alabama playing Tennessee each season while LSU plays Florida.

"Unless each team plays every other team in the league, there is no such thing as scheduling equality," Saban said. "Look, I've coached at LSU. I played Florida every year. So I understand where Les is coming from more than anyone else. My question is does everyone else understand where we're coming from? Do they understand what the Tennessee game means to us, or what the Georgia game means to Auburn?"

Asked why he doesn't wear a national championship ring, Saban deadpanned: "Because the players design them and they're as big as ashtrays."

He also addressed his legacy when compared to the legendary Bryant.

"I don't think there is any reason to compare me to Coach Bryant," Saban said. "He's the best coach in college football history."

One of the biggest question marks entering the season is in the secondary, where Alabama is thin at cornerback. Saban said he hasn't seen the players since the spring but that young players will need to step up.

"I think a healthy John Fulton is key," Saban said. "During the spring he wasn't available and that gave some young guys an opportunity for a larger role on the team."

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.

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Deal ends 08.31.13