Hired by Marshall earlier in the week, the new chapter of Alabama assistant coach and running backs Charles Huff as head coach for the first time began with the introductory press conference on Wednesday. Two days later, Huff accessed Twitter with a farewell message to the head coach of Crimson Tide and Bama Nick Saban.
“Thank you Coach Saban and @AlabamaFTBL, Truly classy acts!” Huff said. “We will miss you, T-Town! Inviting all #RTR fans to be our guests at any game at home! We will show how @HerdFB and this community are jumping into football on Saturdays #GoHerd”
During his introduction, Huff reflected more on what he learned from Saban.
“Well, I think one of the many things – we could have a seven-hour press conference and we would probably only go through the first thing I learned,” said Huff. “But I think what I learned is the ability to sustain success and the ability to sustain success through consistency and approach, consistency and message, consistency and work ethic.
“And when you look at the Alabama program, the only thing that many people will recognize is sustained success. And coach Saban instilled that in me, how to maintain success.
“And when you take on a program like Marshall, this is not a reconstruction. This is a program that has been successful. This is a program that has been successful. The players in the locker room don’t want a coach here talking about, ‘In three years, we’ll be very, very well. ‘ So I will be able to apply the lessons I learned from Coach Saban and the Alabama program on how to maintain success so that we can start running.
Saban shared the following about Huff in a statement in Marshall’s announcement last Sunday.
“We couldn’t be happier for Charles and his family,” said Saban. “He did an excellent job for us and we are pleased and happy to see him have the deserved opportunity to direct his program. We always want our coaches to grow and advance in the profession and Charles has been working hard to win this opportunity. We really appreciate everything. what he did to contribute to the success we had in Alabama and we wish him the best in Marshall. “
From Fairmont, West Virginia, Saban shared a unique perspective on the job when Huff was thinking about Marshall.
“Coach Saban loves this state,” said Huff of Saban, who was also the 1978-79 West Virginia defense coach. “He bleeds West Virginia. He’s a West Virginian. He doesn’t deny it. He’s really proud of it. And the only thing he said to me in our discussions before I left, he said, ‘This is a very proud state. very proud university. ‘He said:’ If you go there and do it well, you never want to leave again. ‘ And I think that when you look at the history of the coaches that were here, it echoes that feeling. Coaches don’t just come here to leave. Coaches come here and look up and it’s 10, 15 years later and they’ve been successful while on here.
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“So Coach Saban really gave me an idea of how this place, how you can fall in love with him, how he can hug you, how passion for fans, passion for alumni, passion for current players really permeates without you don’t even look deeply. And in the 24 or 48 hours that I’m here, from the cafeteria to the hotel and the gas station, this community is screaming for energy, enthusiasm to bring this program back to the days we all know. “