Crimson Red Sports

I don't know if any of you have been following the hard work that he has done with his recruiting since he was hired recently but this man is relentless. I only know one coach to compare him to and it happens to be his best friend on campus, Coach Nick Saban.

When CNS came to Bama and his team got kicked around that first year, he immediately put together the best recruiting program in the NCAA. Well CAJ seems to be smarter than the average Joe because he wasted no time in introducing himself to CNS and hasn't left his side since he signed his contract. CNS schooled his staff of coaches on how to be the best recruiting assistants in college football and it looks like Coach Johnson is using the CNS logic to the nth degree.

There was something that happened at our REC meeting Tuesday night that I just had to share with all of you. Three years ago when Coach Grant was struggling so much with his program I sent an email to one of the officers of our REC asking why the REC doesn't invite CAG as a guest speaker one month. There are a lot of highly recognized members in our club that can make things happen and I thought the coach needed some big time help. I received an email back stating that our REC was basically about football and the speakers had already been selected for that year. Oh well, I thought it was worth the effort but I got their message. Before our guest speaker, Houston Nutt, spoke the other night our president of the club spoke for a few minutes and gave us a heads up as to who some our guest speakers would be this year. As to my amazement, he stated that the club usually invites a couple or three out town guests each year but this year that wouldn't be the case as our new basketball head coach Avery Johnson would speak twice this year. My jaw did drop but I was excited to hear the news.

Now the point that I'm making with this news is that this is exactly how Nick Saban operates, he doesn't take no for an answer and he deals only with the big guns in getting what he wants accomplished. This summer CAJ went with CNS on all of his Crimson Caravan luncheons and this wasn't just by accident. I feel that CNS can see a lot of himself in Coach Johnson and just loves the drive in him so that is why he is so available to him.

If this is the case and I feel it is, Bama basketball will grow back to the higher level that we are all wishing for much quicker than what most of the experts expected. There will be some bumps in the road as it is with all sports and all teams but Nick Saban has proven that perseverance, hard work, and dedication is the most solid foundation possible to build any program or your own life on. Coach Avery Johnson seems to be more than just a smart man and I think he picked the best mentor possible for himself and he has been using his guidance extremely well. His bandwagon started out with a lot of ifs and buts when he arrived but not anymore, all he needs is some quality wins this year because he is getting the quality players, something that rarely happens with Alabama basketball. 

Good stuff.  I can't wait for basketball season.

:popcorn2:

I like every thing I am seeing from CAJ. I am looking forward to basketball being fun again.

Thanks for this insight J.  Good read.

I remember when the BB coaching search was in progress we all said we needed a coach who could develop players 'cause we weren't going to get many 4-5 stars.  Well CAG is changing that.  Plus I think he and the staff he's put together will be good at developing players.

 On Tuesday October 13th, Mrs. J and I will attend a practice/dinner with the team. The players always eat with us and are then excused, that is a lot of fun. I'm always surprised at the players at how well they share some chatting with us, not too bashful. CAJ will then speak to us and if that is like any of the other times I have been around him, we may be there a while. This man is not short of words and I think that is what sells his personality, he has no secrets.

Good stuff Jamos. Thanks for posting.  I have never been much of a college basketball fan but have very casually followed Bama the past few years.  CAJ is actually getting me excited about the team and upcoming season...

Thanks, J. I have not heard one thing that wasn't positive about CAJ. This will probably be the most anticipated basketball season at Bama in a long time. Can't wait.

Great, you will have to bring the kids down for a game, it's been a long time since I've seen them. Also, there are some softball games this month.

Shoot I have always loved sports at Bama even if it was mumly peg. RTR!

>:( >:( >:(  Man!  I wish I could come down for a softball gam but I'm traveling this month so that is doubtful... Maybe I can bring the kids down for a basketball game though...If they have one on a Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa...

I'm more excited about Basketball than I've been in a long time.  We may not see immediate results this year, but even from 10,000 miles away I can see that Coach Johnson is building momentum and is going to make Bama a winner again.  And not just a winning some games with the occasional really good season that we had during the Gottfried years, but a truly exciting program. 

Great report.   :clap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwea0LZQe9k