On College GameDay, Nick Saban Gives His "Nothing" Speech, Which Was Something

Live from the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Nick Saban lit up the crowd at ESPN's College GameDay with a speech from his coaching days at Alabama.

"About this time of the season if you're undefeated, and we were a few times, I'd always give a Nothing Speech," the 7-time national champion said, addressing the Burnt Orange crowd directly.

"I'd walk up in front of the players and I would say, 'If you wake up in the morning and you feel entitled, what would that get you?'"

The crowd and his cohosts roared back, "NOTHING!"

Saban started to feel a bit of his Monday morning meeting energy.

"If you think somebody owes you something, what would you get?"

"NOTHING!"

"If you lose your discipline and your work ethic, what would that get you?"

"NOTHING!"

"If you fail to prepare and pay attention to detail, what would that get you?"

"NOTHING1"

"So, Nothing is more important than staying focused on being the best you can be no matter what you choose to do."

Saban continued, making the point that expectations and reputations when the job was half finished amounted to nothing.

Rece Davis said, "The grade point averages here at Texas just went up a full point."

Maybe so, but the Nothing Speech and its emphasis on discipline and work ethic are a tremendous reminder for college football's playoff contending teams. Forty-nine begin today with two or fewer losses, a shot at making the bracket.