He is just definitely trying to keep the players loose and as he puts it, having fun. If you go into a big game with a win or die mentality it can either have you at the top of your game or freezing up like this bunch did for the Georgia game. He knows whats up.
There is no more at stake in this game than there was last week or will be next week - if we lose (has lost) any of those games, we don't play in the SEC championship game. The point is that he doesn't want his team caught up in all the hype, the way I hope the Ole Miss team is. Calm down.
I agree, Texastigers, I think his statement was a little strong. However, I think its alright for Coach Saban to pretend that no game is ever a big game, and nothing is ever on the line, even if its obviously disingenuous, because he clearly does it for a reason. It keeps the team emotionally level, which he's preached since day one. If the team is as good as Saban wants them to be, they can beat everybody they face without having to be all jacked up for it. If they don't have to get jacked up for big games, they won't have a let down for perceived "easy wins" (see Florida). The goal is consistent, elite-level football, for 11 games, and the only way to get there is to pretend like every game is exactly the same, and absolutely forget about long-term consequences, like BCS standings. More than anything else, especially if you saw the clip, I think this statement in particular was just another example of Saban expressing his usual irritation with the media.
Don't worry too much about that quote. Saban is just trying to down-play all the hype and intensity that will accompany this game--Trying to keep our guys from letting their worries take control of them and have their emotions run wild, possibly causing them to play poorly than expected. Look, Saban knows what's at stake--don't ever doubt that for a minute.
