Recruit Talks Nice-Guy Richt And All-Business Saban

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Running back Kenyan Drake was a Georgia native.  But that didn’t stop him from signing with Alabama this past February.  In The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today, Drake tells Michael Carvell that had Mark Richt not been on the hot seat during his recruitment, the star would have had a harder choice to make with regards to Tide versus Bulldogs.

But more interesting are his comments regarding the personalities of the two coaches leading the programs – Richt and Nick Saban.  Asked which non-Bama coach was the nicest, Drake said:


“Probably Coach Mark Richt.  He was a very genuine guy.  I’m not saying anybody else wasn’t genuine.  With Coach Richt, he was really down to earth and he really showed that he really cares not only about you being a potential student-athlete, but also as a person.  He comes across in a caring manner which makes you feel really right at home.  He’s a pretty good father figure.”


But when asked which coach was not the nicest, Drake tabbed the man he actually signed with.  Sort of:


“Well, I wouldn’t say not the nicest, but I would have to say Coach Saban.  But I’m not saying he was not the nicest.  He’s really straight-forward.  You know what I mean?  I’m not saying he’s mean but I’m not saying he’s ‘buddy buddy’ with you, either.  He’s very businesslike.  I’m not saying Coach Richt isn’t businesslike but they have two different personalities.  Coach Richt is really caring.  I’m not going to say Coach Saban isn’t.  He’s just real straight-forward, to the point and if it’s not like this, then there’s no other way.  With Coach Mark Richt, I feel like he’s more lenient.”


These, of course, are the opinions of one teenager who tried to handle the questions with as much grace and class as possible.  Clearly, he didn’t want to insult either man.

That said, it seems that Richt’s “nice guy” personna and Saban’s “all business” reputation are deserved… at least in the view of Drake.