How Miss Terry Motivates Alabama Players

Nick Saban is credited as being the master motivator, but he may not be the best.

Everyone knew the stakes as No. 8 Alabama went to Lexington this past weekend to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. 

The Crimson Tide had a chance to win the SEC West and keep its national championship hopes alive, but there was also an element of "trap game" that Alabama had to deal with.

Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold revealed after the game that Terry Saban, affectionately known as Miss Terry, texts him each week on Sunday to motivate the guys and help them stay focused. 

The message this week definitely worked with two turnovers forced by Arnold against the Wildcats.. Arnold has been a mainstay on Alabama's defense this season, starting every game at cornerback. He's tallied 49 tackles, with one sack, while intercepting three passes and forcing another fumble defensively.

His efforts have shot him up draft board and given Alabama a second corner to lock down the secondary. Everyone knows the secondary is Nick Saban's pride and joy, but Arnold seems to have bonded well with the other head honcho of the Saban household.

"Well you know her and Terrion are really, kind of, buddies," Nick said Monday. "So I know she sort of texts with him and all that and I kind of get on them. So it's just like raising your children. I'm the guy that's always trying to get them to do right. She's the momma who's always trying to make them happy. That's the way its' been for a long time."

Miss Terry and Terrion Arnold postgame: pic.twitter.com/QrkbfLgCis

— Sidelines - Bama (@SSN_Alabama) October 7, 2023

Outside linebacker Chris Braswell said it's not just Arnold who gets special motivation from Miss Terry. 

"She provides advice to everyone, you know what I mean?" Braswell said. "Terrion might got a closer relationship with her than everybody else, but she's great though. She loves everybody, you know she just loves Terrion." 

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