Best ever? Nick Saban ruled college football with an iron fist and old-school attitude

It was overtime of the 2017 national title game. Alabama trailed Georgia by three. That’s when Tua Tagovailoa, the true freshman thrown into the game to save the day, was sacked on first down for a 16-yard loss, only to then whip a perfect 41-yard touchdown to win it all.

Amid the celebration, Tagovailoa ran into his coach, the forever-demanding Nick Saban, expecting, well, some kind of reaction other than what he got. After all, this was one of the most legendary passes in Alabama history. Maybe a hug and a “great play, Tua.”

“He pulled me to the side [and said], ‘What were thinking taking a sack [on first down]?’” Tagovailoa said years later on “The Rich Eisen Show.”

Saban, college football’s iconic coach, all-time perfectionist and relentless winning machine, announced his retirement on Wednesday. The 72-year-old won seven national titles, including six during an impossibly successful 17-year run with the Crimson Tide (2007-2023). He previously won it all in 2003 at LSU.

Saban went 297-71-1 in 28 seasons as a college coach at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and finally Alabama. He also spent two years with the Miami Dolphins and previously was a defensive coordinator for Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns.

Saban will be recalled for his unbending principles and almost unflappable seriousness as much as the gold-standard teams he churned out. His reaction to Tagovailoa that day was repeated a million times with a thousand players, the pursuit of perfection drove him more than scoreboards and trophies.

Saban’s teams played against the game of football as much as any opponent.

“The more one emphasizes winning, the less a person is able to concentrate on what actually causes it,” Saban often said.

Nick Saban won a record seven college football titles, six of them at Alabama. (AP/John Bazemore)

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-01-11 01:01:51

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