Posted on 07/31/2006 1:13:03 PM PDT by catholicfreeper
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- When the White House called with an invitation to dine with President Bush, Dan Marino took it. But the coach of his former team said no. Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Monday that his obligations at training camp took priority over a chance to meet the president. "It was really a tough decision," Saban said. "I feel like my first responsibility is our team. That in no way disrespects the importance of the opportunity I would have loved to have had to spend dinner with the President." The invitation was for dinner with Bush on Sunday night at Joe's Stone Crabs, a landmark Miami Beach restaurant. Marino, a former Dolphins quarterback and an NFL Hall of Famer, did attend, Bush said in a speech Monday. Several Dolphins players said they weren't surprised that Saban put his team ahead of the president. "We all know Nick is serious about what we're doing here and is committed to it," defensive end Jason Taylor said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Yeah that is a good point. I try to keep up with Saban is doing. I might try to google him on google news
For him to demand a winning attitude and total commitment from his team he needs to lead by example.
Saban's class is up there with Gov. blanco! He had arrived at the peak of his "Peter principle" while at LSU.
She was at hers when she was born!
Does he suit up and get out on the field and do two-a-days with the players? No.
The correct example to have presented is one of dignity and respect. Too bad Coach missed the opportunity, which is certainly one in a lifetime.
Do you know anything about pro football?
I think if it's a Sunday night the second week of camp his decision may have been different. Camp just started. I can understand why he declined.
I have a great Nick Saban story. I have a friend who was to have his picture taken with a number of Big Ten coaches (when Saban was at MSU). Saban showed up about 10 minutes late for the picture. Paterno leaned over and said to Saban: "Do you try to be an asshole."
Whoops, I forgot the question mark.
"...What he should have said was:
"Coaches who's team win the Super Bowl get to meet the President."
Well it looks like saban passed up his one and only chance to meet the Pres. LOL !!
saban also refused to take the Bears head coach job because he was commited to the college program he headed
Lovie Smith then got the job and this life long Bear fan couldn't be happier
Enough to know that it never outranks dinner at the White House.
Nothing does. Ever. That invitation is always paramount.
You're never gonna convince me it was in good taste to decline, and I'll never convince you that it is improper to decline, so perhaps we should stop now.
Yes, a few more teams are holding camp at their year-round facilities. They aren't going to their own home during camp, however, just to a local hotel near their practice facility.
I agree that David Carr is not the quarterback that will ever develop into a top-level quarterback. I think the owner likes him because he is so squeaky clean but he's not a future hall-of-famer.
However, I don't think that Vince Young is the answer either.
And if Bill Clinton asked you to dinner?
Monday, July 31, 2006
DAVIE — For anyone wondering whether Dolphins coach Nick Saban's perpetual focus on football is genuine, simply phone the president.
Yes, as in the president of the United States. Yes, as in George W. Bush.
Saban declined an offer from Bush to dine with him and other luminaries at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach on Sunday night.
Saban's reason? He already was scheduled for meetings with assistant coaches until about 10:30 p.m., Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said Monday.
The invitation was extended "a few days ago," Greene said. Bush was in South Florida on Sunday and today.
Saban said the decision was not politically motivated but simply a matter of focusing on training camp, which opened Saturday.
"There's nobody in the world that has more respect for the president of the United States ..." Saban said. "It was really a tough decision for us last night to stay here and work with our team and go to the meetings and do what we have to do in camp." The Dolphins still were well-represented at the dinner. The guest list included members of the 1972 Dolphins and Dan Marino and his wife. The president's brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, also attended, as did film star Andy Garcia.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/07/31/0731saban.html
I wouldn't give up on Carr just yet. He's shown some tremendous toughness. Kubiak's system will benefit him and he has a very solid receiving corps. If he gets some protection up front (yes, I know, a huge if) he'll be just fine.
I think David Carr has shown a lot of potential. He's on a terrible team, I take that into consideration.
Harvey Greene used to be the PR director for the Yankees.
Ask Miss Manners and all the Post and Vanderbilt women. Even Letitia Baldrige will back me on this one.
I agree.
We are not amused.
I disagree. As long as it was a principled decision based on principle and not politics, it was a perfectly justifiable decision.
The president is neither a king nor a god. America has always prided itself in its equality and lack of a feudal society.
Saban has a job to do just like the President does, and if he deemed his team needed him there sincerely, I am sure the POTUS would understand.
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