The problem with playing opponents that are badly outmatched is that is game gets really boring for fans very quickly. This is what’s been happening in Tuscaloosa all season long causing Alabama fans to exit the stadium early, and Nick Saban is not happy about it. According to FOX Sports Saban addressed the issue to the media and called out all the fans who have left the games early this season.
“I’ve talked about players playing for 60 minutes in the game and competing for 60 minutes in the game. And, in some kind of way, everybody that choses to go to the game should stay there and support the team for the game.”
“Maybe if you’re not interested in doing that, you should let someone else go who would really like to go because I have a lot of people who want to go.”
The real issue is that Saban wants to impress recruits, and the perception is that it’s hard to do so with fans ditching games early. However, if Saban is trying to get fans to stay in their seats, he may also want to consider speaking to the athletic department about making the Tide’s schedule a little harder. This way games won’t be blowouts and fans will stay.