My favorite coaches are Bryant, Stallings and Saban. Not surprising coming from an Alabama fan, but there is more to it than that.
I don't know much about Wade and Thomas, featured along with Bryant and Stallings in the picture. I do, however, know a bit about Coach Bryant, and I believe he helped to lay a good, strong foundation for the football program based on these principles:
1. Strong discipline
2. Responsibility (Both taking responsibility and delegating it)
3. Graciousness
4. A Father's Heart
It is obvious from the testimonies of players such as Namath and Stabler that Coach Bryant set strong standards of discipline for his team and made good on the consequences.
I've always personally admired how he would take responsibility for a loss. I've known many coaches to blame the officiating. One good coach actually blamed his own player, setting the player up for public ridicule. I don't think it was false humility in Coach Bryant. I think he truly believed that good coaching could and should overcome occasional bad calls and botched plays.
I also appreciate the graciousness of Coach Bryant. He didn't believe in humiliating another team by running up the score. Instead, he put in less experienced players. That was not only gracious to the other team, but wise, in that inexperienced players could get valuable playing time. Coach Saban did the same this season. Taking a knee twice against Florida instead of going for a score was beyond gracious, in my opinion.
Besides strong discipline and firm consequences, there are countless stories from many who played for Alabama indicating that the Coach truly had a father's heart for them. He not only helped make it possible for them to realize their dreams, but also helped make it possible for their children. An inheritance of sorts...
I believe that Gene Stallings walked in these same principles and Nick Saban appears to be as well. I don't think they practice these things in order to win, but rather, they win because they practice these things, even if it costs them.
In the words of Paul of the New Testament, and I paraphrase, "We have a lot of good coaches, but not many with a father's heart."
