Saban has a reputation as a control freak and doesn't allow his coaches to speak to reporters in the regular season. He probably wasn't fond of what Kiffin said, but he wasn't about to add fuel to the fire. Saban downplayed Kiffin's remarks Friday by saying, "I think when someone has been a head coach before, it's very difficult to go back and be an assistant." He went on to praise Kiffin's work.