ESPN takes suspense out of coach of the year award. (It's Nick Saban.)

The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show is live Thursday from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Pacific time, but you don't need to tune in if you want to be surprised at who is the coach of the year.

That would be Alabama's Nick Saban. I'm not spoiling anything here.

ESPN announced the winner today. Maybe it's so non-Saban fans (I'm looking at you LSU Tigers folks who felt spurned when Saban bolted for the NFL, and you Miami Dolphins supporters who felt hoodwinked when Saban went back to college after having been an NFL loser). But Saban is the Home Depot coach of the year. Nice sponsorship for the coach who keeps on moving.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Alabama Coach Nick Saban after his team lost to Florida on Saturday in the SEC Championship game. Credit: Marvin Gentry / US Presswire

Comments

[AHM21]

Is it possible for you to do a simple write up about Saban without taking shots at him in the process? It's terribly predictable.

[Dustn Brenton]

Can the national media not honor the man without taking those stupid shots at him? I mean really, journalism these days is pathetic. I bet if Pete Carroll had won the award this article would have been all praise. I believe I should get into journalism if this type of reporting is all it takes to make it in the buisness. With the recession, how have you and your 8th grade writing skills not been laid off yet.

[RedMosquito]

Classy little write-up there, Diane. Way to spit all over a guy for getting an award.

And, since you mentioned "losers," I hope you get a nice pat on the back for your clever witticisms.

[Patrick Davis]

I am getting a degree in Journalism right now. I hope to one day write without a biased opinion. Allowing my readers to digest what I have passed on to them without feeling the need to have the attention on my feelings.

It's almost as if you don't like Nick Saban. The irony in that is that you probably think he's overpaid. What's ironic about that is that I don't know how much you get paid but I think the same about you.

[BamaBlitz]

After reading this I am beginning to understand why newspapers are going under.

[Thomas]

Diane - didn't you used to cover Auburn when you worked in Columbus, GA? Ahhhh yes, you did. Your bias shows.

Why can't you just write the article without letting your little digs find there way into it? Maybe you have to call Saban a loser because you are in fact, a sore loser. Ya think?

[Saban Fan]

There are already some great comments. I find it interesting that people criticize this type of bias on the day your paper filed bankruptcy.

Keep up the work Diane. Your paper needs you! : )

[Jon Crabtree]

That little shot at the end was uncalled for. Are you jealous of Nick Saban's success? The man has a family, and he adopted two kids at infancy. He gives a large portion of his 4 million dollar salary back to the kids for scholarships for 1st generation college attendees. How much have you donated Diane? It's a shame you can't be happy for the man, like most college football fans are. Your unprofessionalism shows.

[Sh56]

I too looked at you BIO Diane, it's ironic you've had several jobs in several cities. Sounds like you like to "keep moving" too. Wonder why? To pursue a better career? Better job enviroment? More money? Fired? Pot calling the kettle black and so on. Maybe you didn't like your job, and wanted to make a difference in some young persons lives? Oh wait, that's Nick Saban's reason for returning to college football. Congratulations Nick Saban, job well done and much deserved award.

[LegalAcidity]

Howdy Diane...

Great blog post. Tell me, if you were unhappy in your current position (and considering the recent bankruptcy filing, your paycheck may soon be worth less than the paper it is printed on), and you decided to flirt with another employer, would you tell everyone you worked with that you were considering changing positions, thus risking an immediate loss of credibility at your current job?

Or would you toe the company line until you finalized the better position?

Thought so.

[sharon]

Diane, haven't you switched jobs many times, moved to several cities, worked for several print media outletss? Pot calling the kettle black wouldn't you think? I expect no less from a former Auburn Football beat reporter from Columbus,Ga. Enquirer. Congratulations Coach Saban much deserved award. Diane... you're sad and pathetic, no wonder the LATimes is bankrupt.

[Jenny]

Being from Florida, I am happy for Coach Saban in his award. Alabama played a great game against Florida, a real dog fight. Coach Saban did a great job in just his second year at Bama. This was with only one full recruiting season, since I believe he went to Bama some time in January when first announced.

It is too bad that more people like the writer of this article, have to be such bad sports and show their jealousy.

[Brandon Foshee]

Diane, I've never heard of you before now, and I'll have forgotten your name in the morning... but please, keep on with the smart remarks about Saban and Alabama. And we'll keep on winning and claiming the rewards. In the end, nothing will change... Alabama will keep on being Alabama, Saban will continue to be a winner, and you will continue being irrelevant.

[Bama 30043]

Check coaches resumes Diane... just like American workers these days, not many coaches stay at the same job/school their entire careers. We at Alabama are thankful to have Coach Saban as long as it lasts.... Thank you Coach Saban for a great 20008 - may you and the Tide roll to great heights in the next year and beyond!

Be a journalist Diane, not a biased mouthpiece...

[David Hussein Wooderson]

Thanks for the write-up and once again proving any hint of objectivity in the media disappeared many years ago. No wonder print mediums are laying off people left & right,the product is horrid.............

[amy]

Is it possible for you to write an article about a coach getting an award he very much deserves without pouting and sounding like a third grader? Geez! What is your problem? Let the man get his award and keep your snotty comments to yourself thank you very much.

[MikeBob83]

I agree with all of the other comments on this blog. I do not know Diane Pucin, wouldn't know her if she walked up next to me. With that being said:

Could you have said that Coach Saban was going to be named Coach of the Year without any negative comments? Where did you receive your degree; Auburn, Louisiana State, or Miami Dolphins U?? The next time you write a column about someone that you may not personally care for,but deserves recognition, leave your personal feeling out...Please. And if you can't do that, then just withhold writing the article all together.

[Bayou Bill]

This is pretty shoddy journalism, and I'm an LSU fan. CNS is probably the best college football coach in the nation and I wish we had him back. Give the story, don't make it.

[ChrisinMobile]

This kind of articles and reporting is what gives the media a bad name. Nick was villified by ESPN and every pundit in America for answering a question that was repeatedly asked of him. He was being honest, trying to focus on his team and season in the NFL. But no! The reporters kept hounding him and he finally tried to get them off his back. He was critizied for doing the same thing as Spurrier, Petrino,Pete Carroll, Weis,Butch Davis,etc.They created a story to fill their time up in their (ESPN)programs and papers. Now they are bowing down and kissing his feet. This type of yellow journalism is what America is fed up with. Trying to destroy a man's character and career is unacceptable. I only hope that the Editors of the LA Times sees all the negative feedback from this article and decides to send Diane Pucin on her way. She is not a Sports Reporter, she is a biased CRITIC.