“This guy goes about stuff like a man killing snakes."

A few months before the start of the college football season, an NCAA-commissioned a study that concluded no connection between the millions of dollars poured into coaches' salaries and on-the-field success.

Alabama's rebuttal has been loud and convincing.

Hired three years ago, Alabama’s Nick Saban has coached the Crimson Tide football team to an undefeated record, No. 1 ranking and shot at the school's first national championship in 17 years.

Since Saban took over, he has led Alabama to 25 victories in 27 games.

There remains no better example of Saban's single-mindedness than his decision, the summer before his second season with the Dolphins, to decline an invitation to dinner in Miami with then-President George W. Bush. Saban was too wrapped up in his team's training camp.

“This guy goes about stuff like a man killing snakes. He's got an intensity and a professional focus that you don't often see in any profession, whether it's lawyering or whatever," says Marsh, who spent six years as Alabama's faculty athletics representative.

Do you have the intensity and professional focus to have people talk about your game in the same way? Why not?

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