It’s the offseason, which means it’s time for the retirement rumors regarding Alabama football head coach Nick Saban to surface and pass without a fuss.
As I have pointed out previously, Nick Saban isn’t leaving Alabama anytime soon. I’m not sure how these rumors even get started, particularly when you have a coach at the top of his game with another great recruiting class on the books.
In the case of Jimbo Fisher, the rumors happened to be true, but Fisher had also led the ‘Noles to their worst season in 40 years. The same cannot be said of Nick Saban–he just won another national title, for crying out loud.
In an interview with ESPN earlier this week, former Florida legendary coach, the irascible Steve Spurrier, stated that he didn’t think Saban was retiring anytime soon. Indeed, he joked that Saban wouldn’t retire until his team suffered three losses in a season. I guess for someone like Nick Saban a 10-3 season would be the absolute nadir of his career.
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The rumors could simply be based on the fact that Saban has been known to be flighty. Indeed, this stint in Tuscaloosa is the longest he has been at any job in his coaching career. There are national title expectations on the line every season now. To be fair, that has got to be a ton of weight for any one man to carry, even one with Saban’s innate talents.
It just seems that Saban would be hard-pressed to find another situation like the one he has in Alabama. The university paid off his house and all of his debts and raised his salary to boot. He has his pick of talented recruits. He’s got it good at Alabama, and I’d bet that the man will finish out his storied career in Tuscaloosa.
With an .899 winning percentage, Saban has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Most people would think this enough of an accomplishment and retire with glory. Not Saban. He told ESPN, “I’ve been involved in some fashion with football and being a part of a football team ever since I can remember. I don’t know what it would be like not doing it, and don’t want to know.”
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So let’s get this straight. Whether you love or loathe Alabama, Nick Saban is going to be in it for a few more years at least. I’m not sure where these ridiculous rumors emerge, but it could be hopeful coaches in the rest of the SEC praying for the end of Alabama’s reign of fire. Regardless, Saban has set the record straight now and Alabama fans can rest easy for a few more years.