Nick Saban wants change in college football. Not surprisingly, college football fans are all for it.
The former legendary coach retired after the 2024 Rose Bowl Game. His Crimson Tide fell to eventual champion Michigan in a classic overtime battle in Pasadena. Saban walked away from the game he dominated as a head coach with Alabama, and previously LSU, who he won a National Championship with in 2003. Saban won several championships at Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.
Now, Saban has moved onto different pastures. He’ll be part of ESPN College GameDay this season after several sound moments at the desk in prior years.
Saban told ESPN’s Chris Low, “If my voice can bring about some meaningful change, I want to help any way I can.”
More from Saban:
“Because I love the players, and I love college football. What we have now is not college football — not college football as we know it. You hear sometimes the word ‘student-athlete.’ That doesn’t exist.”
If he does get into it, it won’t be as an official commissioner. Saban said he’s “not really looking for a job” to help motivate or install change but would rather play the spokesman role.
Nonetheless, people are excited about the possibility of Saban even being a spokesperson. With so much going around the game, there needs to be someone to help reel it all in.
The college football world reacted to the news.
The comments on NIL are very spot on from my experience too. A lot of our guys at UC were doing some cool local deals though that were basic NIL as I understand it, but other people were just grabbing cash and not doing deals at other schools. https://t.co/SJBq4jpofm
— Adam Niemeyer (@adamniemeyer) February 22, 2024
I believe Nick Saban is going to do a lot of good for the sport in retirement. I know I’m beating a dead horse with another tweet about how much I hate CFP expansion, the current NIL structure, and immediate eligibility transfers, but the suits are ruining the sport I love. https://t.co/W03PrEmwHH
— Chris Allen (@chrisjohnallen) February 22, 2024
https://twitter.com/TopGolfLegend/status/1760670844647350665
College football needs Nick Saban as its commissioner more than it needs air. There is no singular person better suited to guide this sport to a more united future than the 🐐 https://t.co/YRda8JGVmv
— Ryan Hickey (@Ryan_Hickey3) February 22, 2024
The “student athlete” has been victimized by the corruption and manipulation of the NCAA. If the NCAA and it’s cash cows embraced the change that was coming instead trying to fight it college sports would not be so chaotic. https://t.co/UUaH1DTK2U
— Coach Devonte Mathis (@D_Mathis7) February 22, 2024
[ESPN]
