I love this part of the article

[Phinfnatic]

Saban was only the most coveted free-agent coach anywhere in America. He comes without critics, a rarity in a sports world overrun by them. He is classy, regal, confident, disciplined -- a dignified heir to the throne of Don Shula complete with the dignified hair of Jimmy Johnson. He believes in himself so completely that the belief will saturate the players soon to either become his followers or be gone.

A FAMILIAR FACE

Oh, Miami's players wanted interim Jim Bates, of course, showing that too many of them are afflicted with the kind of complacency to which their new coach is allergic. Miami's players want the comfort of the known, but they have earned nothing with this 3-11 season, least of all the right to pick the next man to lead them.

Saban has a bit of dictator in him, scary to the employees but necessary in an organization gone soft under nice-guy Dave Wannstedt. These players will learn to play for Saban, out of either love or respect or fear, or he will get new ones who will.

[Thrawn]

Here's something reassuring about how Saban did when in the NFL.

In four years, Saban took a rag-tag group of players and turned them into one of the best defenses in the league.

[Thrawn]

Though he's only 5 feet, 9 inches, his booming voice will be easily heard on the practice field and there won't be any joking or high jinks when players rehearse game plans. During work hours, Saban maintains a deadly serious nature.

[Thrawn]

Saban will bring the same sort of discipline to the Dolphins that he learned from his father, though that didn't impress Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas that much.

"I didn't like to see all this stuff that we're bringing a disciplinarian in," Thomas said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to be disciplined in the league or you get cut. That's overrated in the league."

Zach begging to get cut or be traded?

[Father Guido Sarducci]

Saban will bring the same sort of discipline to the Dolphins that he learned from his father, though that didn't impress Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas that much.

"I didn't like to see all this stuff that we're bringing a disciplinarian in," Thomas said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to be disciplined in the league or you get cut. That's overrated in the league."

Zach begging to get cut or be traded?

Actually, I took that as Zach saying that good players are already disciplined, that they didn't need an outside source to be that way. Zach is probably one of the most disciplined on the team. I have read many times that no one spends more time breaking down film than Zach. I think he even has a room in his home to view film. If more of our team prepared like Zach we would have already locked up a playoff spot.

[dice]

Well, anyone who watched the Saban press conference probably got a taste of how he handles himself. The guy just signed a $22 to $25 million contract and I don't believe that he even cracked a smile. I know very little about Saban, but he came across as "all business" to me in that press conference.

We'll obvious have to wait a few months to see Saban's personnel moves. But I'm very curious to see who he names to his coaching staff and personnel department. The coaching staff and personnel staff decisions will probably carry more long-term impact on the Dolphins than the player moves.

[FishFace]

Man I'd give anything to sit in on that first team meeting.

[Father Guido Sarducci]

Well, anyone who watched the Saban press conference probably got a taste of how he handles himself. The guy just signed a $22 to $25 million contract and I don't believe that he even cracked a smile. I know very little about Saban, but he came across as "all business" to me in that press conference.

We'll obvious have to wait a few months to see Saban's personnel moves. But I'm very curious to see who he names to his coaching staff and personnel department. The coaching staff and personnel staff decisions will probably carry more long-term impact on the Dolphins than the player moves.

One report speculated the retention of Bates and Sullivan both are FOS (Friends of Saban )

[SirW II]

Saban will bring the same sort of discipline to the Dolphins that he learned from his father, though that didn't impress Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas that much.

"I didn't like to see all this stuff that we're bringing a disciplinarian in," Thomas said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to be disciplined in the league or you get cut. That's overrated in the league."

Zach begging to get cut or be traded?

Actually, I took that as Zach saying that good players are already disciplined, that they didn't need an outside source to be that way. Zach is probably one of the most disciplined on the team. I have read many times that no one spends more time breaking down film than Zach. I think he even has a room in his home to view film. If more of our team prepared like Zach we would have already locked up a playoff spot.

Boy, this team confuses the hell out of me. Zach complains about not needing a disciplinarian, but how many time have we heard from the players themselves, that Wannstadt did not hold them accountable for mistakes? And how much better has this team played under someone like Bates, who holds his players feet to the fire?

[AquaMan]

I hear alot of fans/players are worried because they think he may be too much like Couglin, just because Saban carries the "disciplinarian" tag.

They need to get something staight: Couglin fining players for not being early enough to meetings is just insane. Your not going to see something like that on the part of Saban. Your simply going to see a man who has very well defined demands for his players. Some will be able to hang, some won't, but we will be successful after the softies (Jay Williams?) are weeded out.

And to the others that keep comparing him to Spurrier- please stop. Everybody was skeptical that the Fun N Gun would fail terribly in the NFL. It was a gimmick offense. Saban is coming in with no gimmicks. He favored a pro-style offense in college, and has already proven to be a helluva DC on the NFL level.

[KYfinfan]

Saban will bring the same sort of discipline to the Dolphins that he learned from his father, though that didn't impress Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas that much.

"I didn't like to see all this stuff that we're bringing a disciplinarian in," Thomas said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to be disciplined in the league or you get cut. That's overrated in the league."

Zach begging to get cut or be traded?

Actually, I took that as Zach saying that good players are already disciplined, that they didn't need an outside source to be that way. Zach is probably one of the most disciplined on the team. I have read many times that no one spends more time breaking down film than Zach. I think he even has a room in his home to view film. If more of our team prepared like Zach we would have already locked up a playoff spot.

Boy, this team confuses the hell out of me. Zach complains about not needing a disciplinarian, but how many time have we heard from the players themselves, that Wannstadt did not hold them accountable for mistakes? And how much better has this team played under someone like Bates, who holds his players feet to the fire?

I agree with Father Guido. I don't think he is worried about Saban being a disciplinarian, he is saying they should already be disciplined.

[Bleeds Aqua]

I hear alot of fans/players are worried because they think he may be too much like Couglin, just because Saban carries the "disciplinarian" tag.

They need to get something staight: Couglin fining players for not being early enough to meetings is just insane. Your not going to see something like that on the part of Saban. Your simply going to see a man who has very well defined demands for his players. Some will be able to hang, some won't, but we will be successful after the softies (Jay Williams?) are weeded out.

And to the others that keep comparing him to Spurrier- please stop. Everybody was skeptical that the Fun N Gun would fail terribly in the NFL. It was a gimmick offense. Saban is coming in with no gimmicks. He favored a pro-style offense in college, and has already proven to be a helluva DC on the NFL level.

Great post Aqua. Saban is no Coughlin, but the players will know who the hell the boss is. Wanny was just too damn nice and the players abused it. That is why penalties, dumb mistakes and lack of discipline slowly crept into the program. Add to that the piss-poor talent evaluation and well, you know what happened next...

And good point on Spurrier. Everyone fails to mention that Spurrier never put in the hours to get the job done. He would rather put in the minimum amount of time necessary and then go and golf. He even admitted he would still find time to golf during the NFL season if possible. That practice might be fine at the U of F, where talent alone will win 75% of the games. In the NFL?? Sorry bud. Every coach on every staff is dissecting every tendency to get an edge. This guy was just flat out outcoached and outworked during his time in the NFL.

Saban will not let any stone go unturned during his watch. Will this mean definite success for Saban? No. But it is a heck of a start.