Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone

When Alabama Coach Nick Saban gave his Wednesday press briefing, he took time to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and urged all to take note of the many blessings we have. He was speaking to everyone on this celebration that is unique to our nation.

For Alabama followers, most of whom are football fans first, Nick Saban has given the Crimson Tide nation reason to be thankful.

Bama is in an incredibly successful period, two national championships in the past three years and prominent in the stretch run for this year’s crown. Alabama fans are thankful for the 10-1 record and hopeful for success in upcoming games. Alabama will play Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CST Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium with CBS televising the game. If the Tide is successful in that game, it will be on to Atlanta to play Georgia for the Southeastern Conference title on Dec. 1. Win that game, and Bama would be on to Miami for the national championship game.

It is much more than that, though. What Crimson Tide follower would not be proud of overall Bama success on the fields and courts? Alabama won the national football championship last year, but also finished first in the nation in gymnastics, women’s golf, and softball, and just missed the title in men’s golf.

Moreover, there is constant improvement in facilities, matching the overall appearance of the campus of The University. Sports that have lagged are on the upswing under a master plan developed by Athletics Director Mal Moore.

That’s the simple picture of what Alabama fans are thankful for.

Consider also the men and women who perform in crimson and white. With every conference or national report on academics, Bama is at the forefront. The University of Alabama has produced more Academic All-SEC performers, more graduates, more post-graduate scholarships, and more leaders in civic endeavors than any. For the past few years, the Tide football team has had more graduates playing in BCS bowls than any school except Stanford.

Saban said that a true reward for coaching is seeing the players mature in al facets of their lives while playing for Alabama.

On this Thanksgiving Day, many of you will give some thought to Saturday’s football game.

But we join Coach Saban in reminding you to be thankful for all our blessings as Americans, and we hope that you – as we – have friends and family with you on this holiday.

And it’s a nice bonus that we can be thankful for the Crimson Tide.

Happy Thanksgiving!