Alabama football coach Nick Saban isn't concerned with establishing a dynasty, and he isn't focused on the implications of winning three straight BCS titles. The coach made it clear on Thursday that his goal is for his program to play at an elite level, ESPN reports.
Alabama has already won three titles in the last four years, including two straight. When asked about a possible "three-peat" during the SEC Media Days, Saban declined to speculate.
"I don't think about it in that regard. I never, ever do," Saban told reporters. "I think the most important thing for me to do is to get our staff, the people in our organization, our players to be as good as this team can be. Can we get them to make a commitment to a standard that is going to let them play at a high level on a consistent basis that they are capable of?
"And if we do that, maybe we'll give ourselves a chance, and I think that's the goal. That's what I think about. That's what we focus on. That's what we try to get accomplished with the players."
Saban also remained humble when a comparison to the great collegiate coach Bear Bryant came up.
"I don't think I have any reason that anybody should do that. I think Bear Bryant is probably the greatest coach in college football in terms of what he accomplished, what his legacy is," Saban said, referring to Byrant's six titles.
"There's no way that we have done anything close to what he's done in terms of his consistency over time, how he changed what he did to impact the times. They threw the ball and won. They ran the wishbone and won. He changed tremendously to do what he needed to do to be successful."
Another title win under Saban's belt would only strengthen the comparisons. As for a fourth title in five years, offensive lineman Anthony Steen was less reserved about what it'd mean to the program.
"I can't explain how special that would be," Steen told reporters. "I know all the guys are thinking about it, but we're just focusing on the first game."