To continue getting breaking news and the full stories from The Boston Globe, subscribe today.

The Boston Globe

Sports

Christopher L. Gasper

Nick Saban runs an NFL-like program

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The three-letter acronym that sums up the success of Alabama football isn’t SEC or BCS. It’s NFL.

Listening to the Alabama players and coaches talk, sometimes you have to remind yourself that the Crimson Tide are playing for a collegiate title Monday night against Notre Dame in the BCS national championship game.

Comments

And like Coach Cal, Saban is a great college coach who can't cut it in the pros.