Catching Deion Sanders wasn"t easy, but Nick Saban did it. The Alabama coach stunned the sports world when he retired, ending a 28-year streak that saw him win six national titles in 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide and one national title with LSU.
"College football lost its GOAT to retirement," Sanders wrote.
WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 10, 2024
Now in his second season as coach at Colorado, Sanders waits to see who the head coach in Tuscaloosa will be. Deion Sanders was among those caught off guard by Saban"s retirement.
"Happy retirement [GOAT]," Packers running back, and Alabama Kenyan standout Drake wrote, posting a photo of himself working out with Saban watching in Tuscaloosa.
Terry said on the Nick"s Kids Foundation Facebook page,
“We"ve done amazing things at the University of Alabama over the past 17 years and have so many wonderful memories."
On Alabama"s campus, some Crimson Tide fans began placing oatmeal, cream and Coke at the base of Saban"s statue outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, according to Bama Central"s Mathey Gibson.
Outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, #Alabama fans have placed oatmeal cream pies and coke at the bottom of Nick Saban’s statue.
Somber aura around the University’s campus. pic.twitter.com/k60pBCj6jK
— Mathey Gibson (@Mathey_Gibson1) January 10, 2024
While many applauded Saban"s performance, some outside of Tuscaloosa were in the mood to celebrate the legendary college football coach"s retirement.
Outkick"s Clay Travis also posted a funny video of his son from Alabama on how the Crimson Tide is doing now that Saban is gone.
Nick Saban, 72, captain of the Alabama Crimson Tide, blows the whistle. Alabama lost what we know to be Saban"s last game 10 days ago, the 2023 College Football Playoff final against Michigan State in the Rose Bowl.
Saban won seven championships, including one at LSU, and six at Bama from 2009 to 2020, tying Bear Bryant"s all-time Championship record.
That"s what happened when Colorado hired Mel Tucker to replace current coach Deion Sanders. Coach Premier and Saban were very close and one of the football players always had a story about one of his head coaches.
Sanders and Saban dabbled in insurance sales this fall and worked in various sports.
“I love, I love, I respect, every time I do business with Coach Saban, it"s a gift. Just being in his presence, listening to him talk, there"s going to be people who want to hear what he has to say,"
Sanders said last year.
The world of college football has changed more in the past three years than in the past 25 years. The game has changed dramatically with the introduction of NILs and shipping portals, and few are better positioned to embrace these new trends than Sanders.
We won"t know how much this will factor into Saban"s decision until he talks about it, but Alabama seems to have been on a downward spiral in recent years.
It doesn’t take reading too much into the Twitter feed to see Sanders’ respect for the game, its history and great statistics — something that often stems from a passion for football.
Iowa"s Kirk Ferentz has been competing with Nick Saban for more than 40 years. He was on the other side of the ball in the mid-1980s, with Ferentz coaching the Hawkeyes" offensive line and Saban leading MSU"s secondary.
They spent the 1993-94 season together in Cleveland under Bill Belichick, with Ferentz as offensive line coach and Saban as defensive coordinator.
Saban"s MSU team defeated Iowa in 1999, and Saban led Ferentz"s Hawkeyes to their final game against LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl.
“Nick has been a great coach," Ferentz said. I worked in the same room with him for two years. Saban"s success at Alabama was unprecedented, and the program ranks among the best in college football history.
“If you look at the schools that we know as junior high schools, most of them are in decline,"
Ferentz said.
“But at Alabama before Nick, look where they are. Seeing some of his first bowl games, as I know his first game was the Independence Bowl or something like that. You don"t mind playing with them the first year, but then they start to get better."
Saban"s ability to avoid off seasons is another reason his performance has been so impressive, Ferentz said. College football was shocked last Wednesday when it was announced that Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban would retire after a career that earned him seven national championships over the past 20 years.
With Saban leading the Crimson Tide to the Rose Bowl and another appearance in the College Football Playoff, questions have been raised about why the 72-year-old resigned and why.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, Saban"s co-star and co-star of the Aflac commercial, said in a statement about his statement.
Deion Sanders believes Nick Saban retired because the game is about money now.
"It’s like Man I don’t need this….a darn lineman on the open market now is at least is half a million….I want you to get compensated but play first because you love it"📺 https://t.co/ORXEx13NYs https://t.co/CCIodW4Eye pic.twitter.com/JVSMd5Za2P
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 23, 2024
"There has been a big shift in player autonomy in the college football industry as Saban struggles to maintain a championship team, with the transfer portal and NIL performances as the main drivers."
However, according to a report from 247Sports, Saban cited age and health issues as his reasons for retiring during a team meeting where he told the Tide about his decision.
The full impact of Saban"s retirement on Alabama, which has been the dominant program in college football for the past 17 years, remains to be seen.
Interestingly, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Deion"s son) appeared to be calling for Alabama players to transfer to the Buffaloes in Wednesday"s post.
Nick Saban"s retirement has rocked the sports world, with reactions pouring in across college football and beyond.
GREATEST run in history of all sports! Much love and respect to the 🐐…RMFT!
— Mark Barron (@M_B_24) January 11, 2024
I would have been in that portal so fast after I heard Saban retiring lol
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) January 10, 2024
The waves of your influence will be felt for years to come. You’ve poured so much of yourself into so many of us, now it’s time to take care of you and most importantly Mrs. Terry. Thank you for all you have done for me coach! #Lank pic.twitter.com/q9Yw2tqUmy
— Terrion "𝔾ℍ𝕆𝕊𝕋" Arnold (@ArnoldTerrion) January 10, 2024
One thing I know for sure he isn’t leaving the program in a bad space, that’s just the type of man he is, I’m sure his staff and everybody was prepared for this. Somebody already in place to be the coach, I already know who we got but I can’t tell yall just yet 🤫
— Marquis Maze (@Mazeboy4) January 10, 2024
The 2 GOAT’s! Would not be where I am today without these two men as mentors! Thank you for everything! pic.twitter.com/JTJCgOdYbN
— Steve Sarkisian (@CoachSark) January 10, 2024
The two 🐐. So honored and blessed to have learned from them and won national championships with both. Thanks for taking a chance on me and being amazing mentor’s to me. Appreciate you both more than you will ever know. 💙♥️. @AlabamaFTBL @Seahawks Greatness we may never see… https://t.co/wzbKVsq11o
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 11, 2024
Through the battles against each other and through the years watching you, you’ve adapted, grown and won so consistently, leading young men through the highs and lows, wins and losses. pic.twitter.com/6tiSgKGC5g
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) January 11, 2024
Nil played a part in this I bet! https://t.co/Fiwq2VpP8Y
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) January 10, 2024
Thanks Coach Saban. The Crimson Tide will never be quite the same. All the best to you and Terry. https://t.co/rpg7wrj95S
— Condoleezza Rice (@CondoleezzaRice) January 11, 2024
Fans reacted as follows:
It’s true, college is going to be all
About the money NIL
Is going to
Kill the completion in college!— RG| Dynasty Gaming (@Dynasty8314) January 23, 2024
The transfer market changed a lot of things for Saban. Once #Alabama second team wasn’t as good, as say, Mississippi or Auburn’s first team, it was over for him!!!
— Blake Harris (@blakemharris) January 23, 2024
RT @NCAA NCAA created corrupt transfer portal billion dollars stolen from students taxpayers. Saban forced to quit power of corrupt Texas AM 75 million Houston 15 million @DeionSanders prime is right @ESPNCFB complicit @Espngreeny greenie laughing looting public treasury USA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wZTfLYBXYB
— Eugene (@Eugene646) January 23, 2024
I have to agree with Saban they are ruining football on every level. The power of the media is sickening
— John Lariviere (@JohnLariviere12) January 23, 2024
"A touching tribute by Alabama fans, placing oatmeal cream pies and coke at Nick Saban's statue. It reflects not just a legendary coach, but a beloved figure whose impact goes beyond the football field. A somber aura indeed, capturing the sentiment of an era coming to a close.…
— Chanel Morse (@ChanelMorsee87) January 11, 2024
I hope they still have a University left? If crap football, why even go there?
— Not_Bill_Smith (@johnops) January 11, 2024
Blame the Transfer Portal that you love so much and NIL, plus the proposed paid sub division.
I firmly believe Saban does not want to coach semi-pro ball which is what college football is fast becoming.— Matt Roberts (@RecruitBoss) January 10, 2024
SEVEN Alabama players entered the transfer portal after they lost to Michigan.
When you have an instant gratification culture who are used to getting their own way, and have watched modern day pros disregard loyalty for the sake of victory.
Would you want to coach that in the…— Matt Roberts (@RecruitBoss) January 10, 2024
He wasn’t chased anywhere. Dude had the no 1 class last year, no 2 this year and no 2 for 2025. He was 72. He won the SEC this year and took the champs to Ot. This is a garbage take Deion.
— The Gleason Group (@TheGleasonGroup) January 10, 2024
Yes, you are right. What Coach Saban loved about College football was the love he had for his players and coaches. The ability to positively affect their lives for the better. The ability to have a long term relationship with them. A lot of that was lost with NIL and the transfer…
— StanKirk🇺🇸 (@stanfordkirklin) January 11, 2024
So, it wasn't Coach Prime that left after recruiting players to his team it was actually coach saban and potentially coach Lanning. Hummmmm…say it ain't so!!!!
— Peaceful ☮️ Patriot (@plhh_w) January 11, 2024
#NickSaban is white privilege at its worst ! Similar to Phil Jackson, Erik Spolestra , Pat Riley, Jim and John Harbaugh, Andy Reid etc.. If you give a white coach or any coach the black players and talent these men have had the results would’ve been the same!
— -TASDN- (@GenBlessings99) January 11, 2024
