The college football world was stunned on Wednesday when Nick Saban, the legendary head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, announced his retirement after 17 glorious seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Saban, 72, leaves behind a legacy that is unmatched in the history of the sport. He led the Crimson Tide to six national championships, the most by any coach in the modern era. He also won a national title at LSU in 2003, making him the only coach to win championships at two different schools.
Saban’s dominance was evident in every aspect of the game. Also recruited the best talent in the nation, developing them into NFL stars and built a culture of excellence and discipline, instilling a winning mentality in his players and staff. He outsmarted and outcoached his opponents, adapting to the changing landscape of the game. He was revered and respected by his peers, fans, and media alike.
Saban’s retirement marks the end of an era for Alabama and college football. He leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to surpass, and a void that will be hard to fill. He also leaves behind a poem that he wrote to express his gratitude and farewell to the Crimson Tide nation:
I came to Alabama with a dream To restore the glory of the Crimson team I gave it my all, every day and night To make you proud of every fight
We had some highs, we had some lows We faced some challenges, we overcame some foes We won some trophies, we made some history We created some memories, we left a legacy
I want to thank you for your support and love You are the best fans in the world, and I mean that from above You cheered us on, you lifted us up You made us feel at home, you made us feel enough
I also want to thank my players and staff You are the reason for our success, and I mean that from the heart You worked hard, you played hard You grew as men, you grew as leaders
I’m proud of what we accomplished together And I’m grateful for the time we spent together But now it’s time for me to say goodbye And pass the torch to the next guy
I’m retiring as your coach, but I’m not leaving you behind I’ll always be a part of the Crimson Tide I’ll always be rooting for you, and I’ll always be here for you You are my family, and I love you
Thank you, Alabama, for everything You made my dream come true, and you made me a king Roll Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide Forever and ever, Roll Tide
Nick Saban had a remarkable career as a football coach, spanning both college and professional levels. Here are some of his career highlights:
- He won a record-setting seven national championships, six with Alabama and one with LSU.
- He had a .806 winning percentage as a head coach, with a total of 297 wins and 71 losses.
- He was named AP Coach of the Year twice, in 2003 and 2008.
- He coached 44 first-round NFL picks at Alabama, the most by any college coach.
- He developed a famous philosophy called the Process, which focused on daily improvement and execution rather than outcomes.
Nick Saban won seven national championships as a head coach, with six at Alabama and one at LSU. Here are the titles and the years he won them:
- 2003: LSU defeated Oklahoma 21-14 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Sugar Bowl.
- 2009: Alabama defeated Texas 37-21 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl.
- 2011: Alabama defeated LSU 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
- 2012: Alabama defeated Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Sun Life Stadium.
- 2015: Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
- 2017: Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 in overtime in the College Football Playoff National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- 2020: Alabama defeated Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at the Hard Rock Stadium.
