The dawn broke, heralding a new day.
Saban arrived at the office early in the morning. Others saw Saban as having written countless legendary histories in the NCAA, and they assumed he could just sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor, listening to praises and adulations. However, the reality was that he had never allowed his work to slacken for even a day.
Because Saban knew that in the world of competitive sports, coaches and players were alike; slacking off for even a day could mean being left behind.
In lower-level competitions, one could dominate merely by talent, but in higher and more professional events, talent became just an entry requirement. Everyone was a genius, every individual a powerhouse. At that point, what mattered were effort and focus. This was true in any competitive sport; those at the peak were geniuses, each one more relentless than the last.
This was also why Saban disliked the NFL—
Managing a superstar with an annual salary of ten million US dollars was a challenge in itself; let alone managing twenty such millionaires along with thirty others earning a million dollars each, and all having bigger egos than the coach.
They always found various excuses to skip training, or would act according to their own whims like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who brought along his personal physical trainer and tactical coach to stay with the team, making it impossible for the coach to fully exercise his authority.
Are profits important?
Absolutely.
Without profits, there would be no league, and professional events could not operate.
But if one only focuses on money, losing sight of professional integrity, it would be a disaster for competitive sports. It’s not about not discussing or needing benefits, but one should not forget their original intention—
Profits come from performance on the field.
All players in the professional realm are geniuses, top talents with exceptional gifts. Yet, those who still strive hard and stick to their initial aspirations are few and far between.
Saban’s personality was too straightforward and genuine; he was not suited for that world of interest trading. Therefore, after trying three times, he still chose to stay with the NCAA.
Of course, the NCAA also involved interests, not inferior to those in the Professional League, but at least these kids still believed in their dreams. They still possessed passion and hope, and they were still willing to sweat it out, not just for the sake of profits.
Barely stepping into the office, he could see a figure from the floor-to-ceiling windows, sprinting under the brilliant golden sunshine of the south.
Saban paused, drew closer for a better look, and immediately recognized it as Li Wei.
The spring training camp had already passed three weeks, and Li Wei had been training on his own every day without fail. Initially, Saban and his team thought that Li Wei was just making an impression with a burst of enthusiasm, but unexpectedly, this persistence lasted throughout the entire spring training camp.
Further, Li Wei also recognized his shortcomings: his grasp of Football needed to be built and experienced through actual skirmishes bit by bit, even template training couldn’t replace his personal experience.
Li Wei hoped that when the new season started, he would get more playtime, so he didn’t have time to waste. Compared to other players, he still had many courses to catch up on.
Thus, this morning, he woke naturally with his biological clock and once again immersed himself in training.
"Early in the morning, what are you watching with that strange smile on your face?"
The office door swung open, and without looking back, Saban knew it was Burns. He didn’t answer, just stood there with his arms crossed.
Sure enough, Burns came over.
Standing at the window, Burns hesitated slightly, and his words were a bit stuttered.
"Is that... Li Wei?"
Saban nodded, "Earlier than me. And as always, he has a plan, not just blind training. Disciplined, professional, smart, persistent, Burton, maybe you’ve really uncovered the second Derrick Henry."
Burns’ eyes were full of satisfaction, a smile creeping onto his lips, "But I wonder who would win if he were to compete with Derrick?"
Saban remained rational, "At this stage? Derrick, of course. Li Wei is still too naive; he doesn’t even know the rules of Football; last time, I saw him learning basic strategies and rules from Clark."
Burns tilted his head, "But I think his understanding of the game is better than Derrick’s. Give him some time, and then the results might be up for debate."
Saban chuckled, "No wonder people always say that the human heart is biased. How long has Li Wei been in the team, and you’ve already completely set Derrick aside?"
Burns faced it openly, "Li Wei is uncut jade, knowing nothing about Football. I pulled him in with my own hands, so naturally, I need to look after him."
Completely unashamed of his partiality, "Nick, do you think we need to reconsider who starts at running back?"
He even dared to ask for more!
Saban laughed speechlessly, momentarily unable to sort out his emotions, but significantly, his first reaction wasn’t to dispute it.
Hmm? What’s going on here?