Nick pulled the plug down in Tuscaloosa. Wonder who will take over? Lane Kiffen?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Talk about big shoes to fill!

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Death? Smile back...

All good things come to an end.
Thanks Nick.
PS Muley, they rolled Toomer's corner in Auburn today.

What a footprint he has made. He is a certified living legend with a legacy that won't be eclipsed for quite some time, if ever.

He is going to be in big demand on the talking head circuit.

I wish him and his family well.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Not surprised.
Nick has always been a teacher and molder of men first and then a football coach. That is why he left the NFL. Could not use the same approach with a bunch of money rich pro's . Now with NIL turning the college kids into mini pros with agents, he saw the handwriting on the wall and decided not to be a part of it. I greatly admire the man and wish him the very best.
Did Dabo sign his renewal with Clemson yet????

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Forum consigliere

^^^^

While unlikely, Dabo would be a good fit.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

His record speaks for itself, you can't argue his success. I am glad for him and hope he lives well moving forward.

The comment about NIL and the changes coming are spot on. Just playing to get into the 12-team playoff. It will feel strange where every week isn't potentially critical as it is today.

Saw the end of college football as we know it, smart guy. The money, as Gary said has taken over.

“Don't want to play cause ya know I can’t risk getting hurt according to my agent.”

Yeah; the expectation at Alabama is National Championship. Whoever gets the job either meets the expectation or fails. Talk about high stress. Saban worked his butt off to be the best coach in College Football. The next guy will have the same tough job.

I hope Nick uses his retirement bully pulpit to tell the public what NIL money and the transfer portal have done to college sports. The rot has percolated down to high schools where it's now OK for an athlete to engage an agent to maximize $$. Something has to moderate this madness. The NCAA needs to take a leadership position and come up with reasonable guardrails.

Saban did an episode with David Feherty, the golf guy, a couple of years ago, talking about life and leadership and Saban's role in molding character. Remarkable man unless your alma mater got regularly creamed by Alabama. I'm glad he stepped down at the peak of his game. How did LSU ever let this guy get away? Maybe the same way Texas A&M let Paul Bryant get away??

FWIW - I think the days of powerhouse college teams are numbered. Players want to play and the portal can get them what they want.

A. Play and not wait 3 years under some other great players
B. Monetize their skill

You can't blame them. I think Saban was a great recruiter since success breeds success. If a player can go to any team and play plus make NIL money you can't blame them can you ?

Old school. When loyalty to the program was worth more than just money.

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No baby we aint

Double yeah. I have many friends and loved ones that are old school, diehard, bleed crimson red, Tide fanatics.

I'm not exaggerating here when I say that their sun rises and sets based on Bama's win or loss. The new coach, whoever that may be, has no idea what he's in-store for.

I wish him well, but he better have nine lives and a loyal bodyguard.


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Death? Smile back...

Had me singing that old Steely Dan tune, Deacon Blue, in honor of the winners in the world. Nick was one.

I agree with many others here regarding the NIL ruining college ball.
True Nick will be tough to replace. One name mentioned is Dabo (Dumbo) Sweeney. Just kidding, he's had a great run with Clemson. And his contract buyout is only 7.5 mill. Not that much in todays environment.
I think Nick was raking in more that 12 mill a year + other incentives.
Hope Nick doesn't disappear. He's truly a college football legend and many of us wish him the absolute best. It would be great if he would travel around schools giving talks. He obviously knows how to motivate.

Wasn't LSU's call. Nick wanted to try the pros and LSU let him go which was pretty gracious of them if you ask me. Nick learned quickly at the pro level that his method did NOT work and he greatly missed the mentoring and teaching at the college level. He would have come back to LSU in a second but LSU was not willing to get rid of a coach who had just won a national championship (Les Miles) so actually Alabama was his second choice. ( this comes from some HIGH level boosters). In the end, I loved watching him coach and loved watching the difference he made in so many young men's lives and I hope he lives a long and happy retirement with Miss Terry.

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Forum consigliere

The Pros are a whole different story. Urban did the same thing and learned quick the same college coaching techniques do not apply to professionals.

Alabama has a tradition of winning going back to Bear Bryant.

With the recent changes in college football the players may begin to behave more like the pri maddona pros in short order.

I can totally understand why he retired; I would have too. I don't much care for the direction college ball has gone.

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213th FBINA

Thanks Coach Saban...ROLL TIDE!

Seems Mr. Saban and Mr. Belichick will have lots of time to fish, I've read they are good friends.

I expect Bill and Nick aren’t retiring. Retiring from coaching, yes, but not retiring.

The best ever!! It's a shame what the NIL is doing to College ball, but money talks. The elite kids will go to the elite teams and the rest will suffer. Nick saw the writing on the wall and walked away and I wish Him the best. Sad times for college football.

In a player's college career, Saban is the GOAT. His wins, conference and national championships all speak for themselves, but it was his personal interaction and development of the kids that I think are the story of his legacy. Most only see him on the sidelines where he was sometimes...um..."animated", but he motivated his players to play at their physical peak and taught them to be better young men.
I read an interesting article about choosing a much younger coach from a lesser conference to replace him. It made some compelling points, but as stated, he leaves some huge shoes to fill. Good luck to Nick and whomever they find to replace him! And as always....ROLL TIDE!

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paws for friendship

Nothing left to prove. Doesn't need the money. Has been very clear about his thoughts on the direction college football is going. It was time.

Next coach? Never replace a legend, never. Let the next guy wallow around for two or three years then come in and save the day.

I don’t think there will be 12 undefeated teams unless they dig deep to include Fordham U and Bronx Community College.

Imagine the weeping and gnashing of teeth when a one loss team wins it all, or heaven forbid a two loss team?

Ton of respect for Coach Saban going back to his days at Michigan State, he's the GOAT!

The modern college game is a huge cluster IMHO. The unique situation at Bama has 5 star recruits backing up 5 stars which only lasts one year before they hit the portal. Used to have to sit a year before being eligible but not anymore.

I don't blame him a bit at 72 yrs old under the circumstances. Good luck to him!

PS: Was very happy to have that one last crack at them on Monday night!

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Pass it on.
Mark

I knew a guy named Jim Saban once. He was our mailman and Boy Scout leader - heck of a guy. He had two sons, Donnie and Steve. Who is this Nick Saban? 😁

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Everybody could shoot

I’m so old, I remember Nick’s cousin, Lou.

From FNC: "The last few days have been hard," Saban told ESPN in an interview Thursday. "But, look, it’s kind of like I told the players. I was going to go in there and ask them to get 100% committed to coming back and trying to win a championship, but I’ve always said that I didn’t want to ride the program down."

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

OK, this might be our chance! I'm a grad and fan of Southern Miss. We have beaten most of the old SEC teams at least once, Alabama more than once. This usually happened when their team was down and ours was up. I was on the sidelines the last time "The Bear" coached a game in Tuscaloosa. I was part of the police escort of the Southern Miss team to play Alabama. Reggie Collier was our quarterback. We were ahead 28-0 at the half. The Bama fans were going nuts. Even one of the Tuscaloosa motorcycle officers told me if we won the game he wasn't going to help us get to I 59/20. I told him if we won I could handle it. We won the game 38-29. He escorted us anyway. We got back to Hattiesburg and there were 20-30,000 fans waiting for us. The point I'm trying to make is that if Bama doesn't get it together quick a few lowly teams like Southern Miss are going to take advantage of it. Bama will find a way back even if that happens. They always do.

Seeing that Nick Saban was retiring reminded me of this story about me and his first cousin Lou ........

Lou Saban (1966)
In a surprising move, Lou Saban unexpectedly resigned as head coach of the AFL's Buffalo Bills in January 1966 to the HEAD FOOTBALL COACH POSITION AT MARYLAND. He said he was leaving because "there can be little left to conquer in professional football". His record at Buffalo was 36–17–3. Saban, however, only stayed at Maryland for one season in which the team posted a 4–6 record, as he departed back to the AFL to become head coach of the Denver Broncos.
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I was in the marching band. "Early week" was when the U. of Md. marching band stayed on campus in late August in the dorms. We spent each day all day learning and practicing our "stuff" for the upcoming football games. We ate our meals in the same cafeteria as the football team who was also practicing every day. The football team had a separate line for their chow. One night, great big steaks were being flopped on each players plate. No steaks for the band in OUR line ! Those steaks looked REALLY GOOD. Since I was as big as most of the football players, I thought no one would notice if I slipped into THAT line and scored myself a steak. So I went over and grabbed a tray in their line. Before I got to the steaks, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around. Coach Saban (in a none too friendly manner) told me to get the $#@%! out of HIS line !!
No steak for Ken !! ....... Oh well ... I gave it a shot 😂.

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

While I agree someone (make that read: everybody) in collegiate athletics needs to stump for keeping it amateur (non-paid for the athletes). I don't think it needs to be Saban. If he starts talking about money and collegiate sports, somebody is bound to bring up his own salary for coaching and make him have to defend it. He is the highest paid public employee in the state of Alabama, not just in sports but in any category.

Besides, he's done all he needs to do, and with his record, he should enjoy being out of the high pressure end of sports and do color commentary. Or go fishing.

Coach Saban..

Waddaya think about living in TAMPA????

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Replacement

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer set to become next Alabama head coach following Nick Saban’s retirement: report

Actually, he just bought a $17 Million dollar home in Jupiter, Florida.

Attached Images

	Sabin Home.jpg (95.3 KB, 33 views)
	Sabin Home1.jpg (65.9 KB, 30 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515