If Nick Saban is testy, the start of football season is near: Watch

There’s no need to look at a calendar to know that college football season begins next Saturday, followed by a full slate starting Thursday August 31 that goes all the way to Labor Day the following Monday.

Instead, just track Alabama coach Nick Saban‘s increased agitation with the media.

On July 12 at the SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Saban ended his session with the print and internet media with the following statement:

“I’d like to thank each and every one of you. I think what you do in promoting our game and the players who play it is a very important part of creating a lot of interest for our fans, and the people who support and love college football. And there’s a lot of great things that, you know, college football brings to a lot of young players and a lot of entertainment to a lot of fans.

“And I think what you do certainly creates a lot of interest. And even though sometimes you think I’m not in your corner, I certainly do appreciate everything that you do to promote our game and the players who play it. So, thank you very much.”

Now, let’s fast forward to Wednesday afternoon’s post-practice media conference.

Usually with Saban, before he walks into a media room, there’s often an underlying agenda he wants to make known. So no matter what questions reporters ask him, he’s going to eventually segue into his message that starts with him throwing his hands up.

Such as the case on Wednesday when, after some back and forth banter, Saban was asked about outside linebacker Christian Miller.

That led to Saban lighting the fuse at the 1:20 mark of the below video:

Not quite a peel-the-paint off-the-wall rant, but then Saban’s not in midseason meltdown form yet.

But it’s coming.