MKRob Sports

University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban, quoted in The Palm Beach Post about his departure as head coach of the Dolphins in December of 2006:

“Well, honesty and integrity is an important part of our character, my character. Those are words that we use all the time. I think that in an effort to protect our team at Miami — because I had not talked to Alabama and did not talk to them until the season ended — I express that (character is important) to (Alabama) through my agent and said it was up to them whether they wanted to wait and that I would not make any promises. I would talk to them then, (and) I would only reassess my circumstances and our situation as a family at the end of the year. But I kept getting asked about this over and over and over, and in trying to defuse the interest and leave the focus on our team in Miami (long pause) … I had a responsibility and obligation to the players on that team, the coaches on the staff, and I didn’t want that to be the focus of attention.” Added Saban: “So would I manage it differently? Absolutely. I would still have the same integrity for our team, but I just would not answer any questions relative to Alabama … I do apologize for any professional mishandling that might have occurred.”