Nick Saban finished his 17th season as head coach of Alabama with a crushing loss against Michigan in the Rose Bowl. It was a remarkable turnaround in college football considering no one gave them a shot after an early defeat against Texas.
However, the Crimson Tide got 10 consecutive victories and reached the SEC Championship Game where they surprised the entire nation by beating Georgia. Saban ended a 29-game winning streak by the Bulldogs.
Even with an appearance in the College Football Playoff, many rumors suggested that Nick Saban could opt for retirement. It all came in the same week in which one of his greatest friends, Bill Belichick, might also define his future in the NFL. This was the final announcement by the legend.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me. We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it’s about the legacy and how we went about it.”
Nick Saban announces retirement
After winning seven national championships, six of them with Alabama, Nick Saban had very special words for all Crimson Tide fans. For him, there’s no better legacy than all the players he coached.
“We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. Hopefully, we have done that and we will always consider Alabama our home.”
Saban is 72-years old and, during many recent interviews, he admitted that coaching and mainly the complicated process of recruiting players had taken a big toll on him. However, there was no indication that he would say goodbye.
The numbers are just amazing as one of the best head coaches in college football history. Seven national championships, 11 SEC titles, 19 victories in Bowl games and an impressive overall record of 292-71-1.