Post by TheShadow on Dec 29, 2007 12:01:39 GMT -5
www.thenewsstar.com/
By Paul J. Letlow
Former Alabama Crimson Tide and pro quarterback Ken "Snake" Stabler didn't spend his best years with the New Orleans Saints, but he has fond memories of his time there. Playing for the Saints as a backup in 1982-84, Stabler and coach Bum Phillips helped the woeful franchise reach the verge of the playoffs for the first time — only to fall short.
Stabler remains in touch with Alabama football today as the color commentator on radio broadcasts. The Crimson Tide plays Colorado on Sunday in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport.
News-Star sports editor Paul Letlow visited with Stabler recently to recall his memories of the Saints and to gather his thoughts on first-year Alabama coach Nick Saban:
The News-Star: What do you remember about your playing days with the New Orleans Saints?
Stabler: Oh, I had a great time. I was worn out when I got there. My best days were behind me as a player. But being with Bum was the most important thing.
I played for him in Houston in '80 and '81. Bum retired and I retired. Bum got the New Orleans job and he called me and said, 'Why don't you come down here? We need a veteran backup player. You probably won't play much. We'll get some horses and go out to Jefferson Downs and the Fairgrounds and have a lot of fun with horses.'
I went and played with him and for the fans and city of New Orleans and had a great, great time. I lived on a golf course resort out in Metairie area and loved every minute.
But as a player, I was a backup. I was 35, 37 years old. My better days were behind me as a player.
TNS: After playing most of your career with the Oakland Raiders, that was as close to home as you ever played professionally, right?
Stabler: I tried to get back closer to home. The trade with Houston, when (Dan) Pastorini went to Oakland and I went to the Oilers — just getting back in the Southeast and Texas and Louisiana was fun. I didn't have the same team around me and I wasn't the same player myself.
TNS: What did you think about the Saints' season last year?
Stabler: Last year was a great story because of Katrina. It was something to rally around, something to jump on the back of, something to give you some normalcy back. After that storm, it devastated so many people. But all of a sudden, there are 80,000 people all cheering and yelling for the same Something felt really good about that.
Seeing them with Drew Brees, they were not only a good team but an exciting team. Sean Payton's offense got Reggie Bush out in space and they had Deuce to bang it. Drew Brees was dynamite. Guys like Colston came out of no where.
TNS: So, you still keep a close eye on the Saints?
Stabler: I watch the Saints. I watch pro football. That was such a neat story down there. I live in Mobile, and they have a lot of fans down there. You keep up with them and want to see them do good — for the franchise and the city. That team has a lot to do with people's frame of mind and trying to get back to a normal situation.
TNS: We know Nick Saban from his time in Louisiana at LSU. What's it been like working with him at Alabama?
Stabler: They are a better team. They play harder than they did. They play smarter than they did. They just don't have the depth. We don't have the talent that he built at LSU.
But it's just a matter of time. He's already making noise. He got a little quarterback out of Florida named Star Jackson. They got a kid named Hightower out of Tennessee who's 6-3, 250-pound pass rusher. You see it happening.
He reminds me of Coach (Bear) Bryant in a lot of ways. The way he handles media, the way he handles discipline, the way he handles all of those things. He has an "it" factor. I don't know what an "it" factor is. Coach Bryant had an "it" factor, whatever that is — a look in his eye or the tone of his voice, his demeanor.
He is in charge. There's something about that you like. The kids all love playing for him.