College football recruiting is often a rat race. That's why you hear stories of guys like Ohio State's Urban Meyer diligently keeping up with recruits via text message. Hustle points count toward a national championship.
But Nick Saban does not share this sentiment. He hasn't won four national championships -- including three at Alabama -- by debasing himself with novelty technology.
Forget Snapchat and Uber. This man has never even sent a text message. Not to a recruit, not to a co-worker. Not even to his wife.
And he plans on keeping it that way.
"I do get text messages, and I do read them,” Saban said last week to The Wall Street Journal. “I just don’t know how to send them back.”
Texting isn't the only modern luxury Saban eschews. The man has seen how much time his wife spends responding to email, and he's not about to throw away his time into a value-less frivolity. "If you don't send any, you don't get any," he says.
Saban's disdain for technology extends to Google, a mysterious entity whose purpose he has yet to pin down.
“I don’t know what you would do,” he said last month, according to the WSJ. “I don’t do any of that stuff.”
Again, these are quotes from arguably the best coach in college football, not Drunk Uncle.
At the same time, it's hard to fault Saban for how he runs his life. In fact, given his line of work, it's something of a minor miracle. At 63 years old, Saban isn't exactly a freak of nature for staying off email and refusing to text. And in the business world, this isn't unheard of among top-level executives.
But Saban's attitudes are unique because his career is built on his ability to recruit high schoolers and foster connections with college students. Those are two age groups whose daily lives are intertwined with technology -- Pew notes that the average teen was sending 60 text messages per day, in addition to other online activity, according to the WSJ.
There are some theories about Saban's tech aversion that hold weight, all of which may be true. One is that he isn't tech-resistant at all -- he's simply focused on efficiency. Saban may not text, but he was one of the first college coaches to adopt Skype in recruiting practices.
Why Skype but not text or email? That leads into the second theory: Saban understands the value of building connections, and he believes face-to-face conversations and handshakes have a greater impact than sending impersonal lines of text.
In other words, Saban gravitates to the best resources at his disposal. It's not that text or email scare him off. It's that neither one is good enough for Saban.
Sports Year In Pictures: 2014
Winter Classic Hits The Big House
With an NHL record attendance of 105,491 at Michigan Stadium watching, the Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 3-2 in a shootout on Jan. 1. The game had been scheduled for 2013 but was a casualty of the owners' lockout.
Florida State Wins National Title
Kelvin Benjamin catches the winning touchdown pass from Jameis Winston with 13 seconds left, and the Seminoles beat Auburn 34-31 in the last BCS championship game.
More Intensity
Nebraska coach Tim Miles looks like he is ready to take a charge against Michigan. Or something.
Just A Bit Offsides
49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks guesses wrong on the snap count in a playoff game at Carolina.
Code Blue
North Carolina State's Kyle Washington gets a taste of why Duke enjoys such a considerable homecourt advantage in basketball.
Tipping Point
In the last minute of the NFC championship, Richard Sherman breaks up this pass intended for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone. Malcolm Smith intercepts the ball after Sherman tips it, and Seattle hangs on to win 23-17.
Serious Hangtime
The snowmobile freestyle event is part of the Winter X Games in Aspen.
Hockey Comes To The Bronx
The Rangers pound the Devils 7-3 in the first NHL game played at Yankee Stadium. Attendance was 50,105. The temperature at the opening faceoff is 24.9 degrees.
It's Going To Be A Long Night
A miscue on the snap of Denver's first offensive play in the Super Bowl results in a safety for Seattle just 12 seconds into the game.
Seattle Reign
The Seahawks crush the Broncos 43-8 in the most lopsided Super Bowl in two decades.
Opening Ceremonies
Fireworks highlight the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Conversation Piece
Jamie Anderson of the United States celebrates winning an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding with a member of the Russian Police Choir.
The Big Prop
Shaquille O'Neal allows Sacramento's Ben McLemore to jump over him in the NBA Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend.
Repeat On Ice
Canada retains the Olympic gold medal in hockey, beating Sweden 3-0 in the championship match. Sidney Crosby scores one of the Canadian goals in the clincher.
Long Road Back
Ten years after taking the Daytona 500 for the time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. survives a long rain delay and holds off Denny Hamlin to win.
This Isn't A Deodorant Commercial
But Kyle Tresnak of the Weber State probably wishes it was, as Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski reaches over him for the ball.
Who Cares That It Must Stink
Fans in south Florida clamor for Radal Nadal's gear.
Another Example Of Why Hockey Players Are The Toughest
Travis Hamonic of the Islanders is checked by Florida's Nick Bjugstad.
Rose Garden Selfie
Controversy ensues when this photo with President Obama and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is used in a promotion for Samsung.
Top Dog
NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player Shabazz Napier scores 22 points in the championship game to lead UConn to a 60-54 win against Kentucky. It is the fourth national title for the Huskies, and the first under coach Kevin Ollie.
Double Bubba
Bubba Watson wins the Masters for the second time, and then celebrates at Waffle House.
Just Like In The Comic Books
Amir Khan catches Luis Collazo flush with a big right hand.
Perfect Splat
Seattle's James Jones chases a triple off the bat of Angels first baseman C.J. Cron.
Kings Crowned Again
Defenseman Alec Martinez scores in double overtime of Game 5 in the Stanley Cup Final against the Rangers to give Los Angeles its second championship in three seasons.
Mission Accomplished
After losing the 2013 NBA Finals in a heartbreaking seven-game series, San Antonio is inspired to finish the job this time. The Spurs dispatch the Heat in five games to give Tim Duncan his fifth NBA championship.
Fun While It Lasted
Fans in Redondo Beach, California, react as Belgium eliminates the U.S. from the World Cup.
Red Storm
Threatening skies loom in Cincinnati during a game between the Cubs and Reds.
Close But Still Sieger
Germany beats Argentina 1-0 in the championship match to win the World Cup.
Rocky Mountain Rainbow
This Pirates-Rockies game in Denver is brightened in unusual fashion.
Not An ALS Challenge
After delivering the winning hit, Will Venable of the Padres has his interview with broadcaster Jesse Aglar interrupted.
This Is Going To Hurt
Neil Magny has Alex Garcia in an unfavorable spot.
Punter Takes A Kick
Pittsburgh's Antonion Brown eludes several Cleveland defenders on a punt return, then attempts to hurdle punter Spencer Lanning. Instead he kicks Lanning in the facemask, which results in a penalty for unnecessary roughness.
Trifecta
Serena Williams beats Caroline Wozniacki in the finals to win her third consecutive U.S. Open. It is her sixth U.S. Open title overall and 18th grand slam.
Not One Of The Usual Suspects
The U.S. Open men's champion is not Nadal, not Djokovic, not Federer. Say hello to Marin Cilic.
Impending Headache
Patriots receiver Julian Edelman sacrifices his body to make this play in a 16-9 win against the Raiders on Sept. 21.
Farewell Flair
In his last at-bat at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 25, Derek Jeter singles in the ninth inning against Baltimore to drive in the winning run.
Motown Blues
Miguel Cabrera doesn't seem too happy with the situation during the Tigers' playoff series against Baltimore.
Hairy Concept
The Chargers cheerleaders flip their tops, so to speak, during a game against the Jets in October.
Going All Out
Mike Moustakas grabs a foul ball hit by Baltimore's Adam Jones during Game 3 of the ALCS in Kansas City.
The Giants Win The Pennant!
The party is on in San Francisco after Travis Ishikawa hits a walk-off home run in Game 5.
Biggest Giant Of Them All
Madison Bumgarner's dominant pitching helps the Giants win their third World Series title in five seasons.
Fighting Spirit
Lauren Hill, sharing a hug with Pat Summitt, inspires fans across the country as she fulfills her dream of playing college basketball despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Making Friends Wherever He Goes
JaVale McGee meets some fans up close in Denver after hustling for a loose ball Nov. 21 against the Pelicans.
Hook'em
The Texas Longhorns get into the selfie spirit after beating Cal in Madison Square Garden.
Greatest Catch Of All Time?
Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. makes a fingertip grab Nov. 23 against Dallas to score despite a pass-interference penalty.
Airborne Raven
Baltimore cheerleaders work together for this aerial stunt.
Icon Exits
Landon Donovan wins the MLS championship in his final match with the L.A. Galaxy.
How Did I Drop That?
Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton cannot believe he didn't hold on for an easy touchdown in Indianapolis' 25-24 win Dec. 7 at Cleveland.
Prayer Huddle
Ravens receiver Steve Smith shares a moment with his teammates and members on the Jacksonville Jaguars after Baltimore's 20-12 win on Dec. 14.
Kobe Passes Jordan
Bryant acknowledges the response from the fans in Minneapolis on Dec. 14 after he moves into third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
