Tide vs Gators: Nick Saban is most hated man in FL?

redrumloa

redrumloa

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I'm sure Lee and Wayne remember the whole circus around Nick Saban leaving the Dolphins for the Alabama Tide. Saban ran a once proud Dolphins team into the ground, lied repeatedly and ultimately broke his contract and left the franchise high and dry, running back off to college to coach the Alabama Tide. The aftermath for the Dolphins? The following year (2007) they had a painful, ebarassing bad season going 1-15, one overtime play away from making history as the only team to go 0-16.

Needless to say there are millions of new Gators fans for today's game. How bad is Nick Saban hated here in South Florida?

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/footb ... 98676.html

Saban has said several times that it took him leaving college football to realize that's where he belongs. But the circumstances of his exit and the resentment still lingers.

Proof can be found on the campus of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, where representatives of the University of Alabama are no longer welcomed and haven't been since Alabama replaced former Crimson Tide coach Mike Shula, the son of Don Shula, with -- of all people -- the head coach of the Dolphins.

Shortly after Saban unseated Shula as the Crimson Tide's coach, St. Thomas Aquinas Athletic Director George Smith sent letters to University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore and University of Alabama president Robert Witt informing them that Alabama was not welcome at St. Thomas any longer.

LEGENDARY COACH

Smith is a legendary high school football coach, both statewide and nationally.

His Raiders are unbeaten this season and ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today.

Smith has coached two of Don Shula's grandsons and is close friends with the family. Smith did not want to speak about the letter this week.
Click to expand...

Saint Thomas is one of the top High School football programs nationally, year in and year out. Alabama can forget about recruiting from Saint Thomas any more. As a side note, I went to Saint Thomas for 2 years growing up. There is a close tie between the Dolphins and Saint Thomas, their weight room back then was donated by the Dolphins.

GO GATORS!! :)
 
An interesting follow up, Saint Thomas Aquinas is now the #1 ranking High School team in the country.

http://highschool.rivals.com/viewrankhs.asp?ra_key=457

Alabama is not welcome to recruit from the #1 high school program in the country. Sweet.

If you are wondering, the Miami Dolphins is just about the only good thing about Florida. Nick Saban is one of the few things wrong with Alabama :lol:
 
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