AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 13 > Entry

How it went: Nick Saban yells at Henry County WR Ambles

Henry County’s MarKeith Ambles said he knows all about about the intensity of Alabama coach Nick Saban.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ambles, who is perhaps the state’s top junior at wide receiver, attended Alabama’s prospect camp this past summer. Ambles admitted he was “loafing around” during warmups when he suddenly heard the distinctive voice of Saban.

“I had no idea he was looking at me, or that he even knew who I was,” recalled Ambles. “[Saban] got on to me and told me to ‘pick it up’ and stuff like that. He was real serious.”

However, Ambles later found out it was only “tough love” by Saban, who invited the youngster to his office after the camp.

“Coach Saban just explained he got on to me because he didn’t want me to play down at the same level at some of the others at camp. He wanted me to play at my best, so he could evaluate me for a scholarship. He said he was really impressed how I performed the rest of the day.”

Ambles was instructed to call Alabama’s football offices after he returned home. When Saban picked up the phone, he told Ambles that Alabama was making an early offer.

It was one of seven offers Ambles picked up over the summer, along with Tennessee, Auburn, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Kentucky.

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Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee

Comments

By James

September 13, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

lol. Sounds like MarKeith is a good guy. I guess Saban doesn’t back off anyone when it comes to slacking off.

By sabanisagreatguy

September 14, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

wow, I knew Saban was a total jerk towards his coaching staff (that is why no one will work for him a second time) but had no idea he was a jerk to recruits as well.

By JustMyOpinion!

September 14, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Saban Sux!

By sabanisgreat

September 14, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

sabanisagreatguy:

Ever heard of Bobby Williams? He worked with Saban at Michigan St, LSU, and in Miami. This year he joined Saban’s staff at Alabama. And it sounds like Ambles respected Saban for acting, as you put it, “like a jerk”. He is such a jerk that he landed America’s #1 recruiting class last season and has assembled one of the SEC’s most talented coaching staffs. Roll Tide.

By Alabamatide

September 14, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this

All of the naysayers unite huh?

Saban is creating a Dynasty at Alabama and thats why all the negative talk. You are scared of what Saban IS doing, and is going to do at Alabama. Saban tells the recruits the truth whether or not you like him, and the recruits LOVE that about him. The SEC is getting ready to look like it did back in the 70’s, cry all you want and say he cant…..BUT you know the truth.

ROLL TIDE COACH SABAN

By CJ507

September 14, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Yeah, a coach telling a player who is loafing to step it up is really being a jerk. I am sure Ambles wants to go to a program where they coddle mediocrity and nobody ever yells, and I am sure Saban doesn’t know anything about recruiting good players. Naysaying dorks.

By Jim

September 15, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

By sabanisagreatguy

September 14, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

wow, I knew Saban was a total jerk towards his coaching staff (that is why no one will work for him a second time) but had no idea he was a jerk to recruits as well.

WOW!! What a dumb thing to say! Jerks dont win recruiting wars and they dont win ball games.

By Pete99

September 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Yea, Saban’s assistants won’t work for him a second time. But how does one explain that 4 current assistants have worked for him in the past. Lance Thompson, Bobby Williams, Kirby Smart, and Bo Davis. Not to mention other staff such as strength and conditioning and administrative. Hmm.

By kloch57

September 15, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

The popular/media image of Coach Saban requires the uninformed to pick up on “Talking Points” to make comments regarding staff members not willing to work for him or Coach being a “Jerk”. I for one listen to complete press conferences, not bits and pieces to spin this characterization. You should listen to everything that is said and you might pick up some pointers from Coach on doing something positive in your life.

By Pete99

September 15, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

I love the way the press and rival fans always brings up Saban’s four million dollar contract but fail to mention the fact he took a pay cut to leave Dolphins, and also in fact he is not the highest paid in college (see Miles and Weiss) and is just a tad above Stoopes and Carrol in pay. Press outside Alabama never mentions fact that CNS recently donated a full one million dollars to the UA scholarship fund for first generation students (first in family to attend college). The man makes big money and at same time donates big bucks to disadvantaged students. Fair is fair.

By sgtnick

September 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

When you want to fry Saban, remember: arrogance and egotism are nature’s compensation for mediocrity

By asswipe

September 17, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this

Bama people are such jerks. Saban makes for a good match with them. Dawgs will enjoy kicking their a* in a couple weeks, yet again~! How boring it’s getting to be.

By TIDE-SHAYNE

September 17, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

say what you want about SABAN and ALABAMA, we could care less..ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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