Crimson Tide team doctors reflect on time with Coach Saban
Over the years, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has made lasting impressions on pretty much everyone he's worked with. That includes team physicians. Two orthopedic surgeons who have worked side by side with the GOAT say they鈥檝e had many memorable moments with Saban.
Doctors Norman Waldrop and Lyle Cain have been mending broken UA football players for a combined 34 years. Cain was a team orthopedic surgeon even before Coach Saban arrived. They've watched from the inside as Coach shaped one legendary team after another.
Cain said, 鈥淐oach Saban's not only very competitive, very detail-oriented, but he's also just driven to the core where he never, never takes a moment off.鈥�
They say it was never fun having to tell Coach Saban a key player wouldn't be medically cleared for a game.
Waldrop said, 鈥淗e might challenge us on, can we do better? Can we get a guy back quicker? But he never, ever, ever went against us and he never did anything that wasn't right for the player.鈥�
They got to see a side of Saban most of us don't, like his remarkable sense of humor, his ability to bring out the best in not only his players but everyone in his sphere, and his unparalleled drive.
Cain said, 鈥淚f you look across the history of college football and professional football, for that matter, there's no one that's had the effect on the players he has but also been successful as he has.鈥�
But they're not sure how his competitive nature and drive will translate into his retirement. According to Cain, 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for him. And I know he's looking forward to the rest and relaxation. I'm just not sure if he's going to do it very well.鈥�
The doctors say they're confident Coach Saban is leaving a foundation the right person will be able to build upon and hopefully create a new legacy, but admit, it won't be the same next year working with a new coach.
Waldrop said, 鈥淒o you cry because they're gone or smile because it happened? I think in this one, if you can't smile because it happened, I think you're missing the boat.鈥�