Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban fires back at Greg McElroy over coaching rumor
It's safe to say that Greg McElroy isn't legendary Alabama football coach Nick Saban's favorite former player at the moment.
Saban took a direct swipe at McElroy, the starting quarterback for Alabama's 2009 national championship team, Monday night at the Nick Saban Legacy Awards ceremony in Birmingham over the rumor McElroy started in July regarding a possible return to coaching for the 73-year-old college football icon.
"You know, I don't know where that came from. Greg McElroy played quarterback for us, and if he'd have done something like that when he was a player, he'd have got his ass kicked," an unamused Saban said to a hearty applause.
McElroy, now an analyst and color commentator for ABC and ESPN, claimed on July 14 that a "very much in-the-know person" had told him the seven-time national champion might not be finished coaching.
The rumor gained traction at SEC media days in Atlanta that week with multiple coaches weighing in, including second-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.
"He's one of the greatest to ever do it, so he's earned the right to do what he wants," DeBoer had said at the podium in Atlanta on July 16. "The best part about what Coach Saban is doing right now is he's still involved in the game. He's growing the game. He brings passion to it."
The following day, Saban's daughter Kristen Saban refuted the rumor in a social media post to Instagram. Saban himself later shot down the report.
Saban is set to begin his second season as an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay," a role that earned him a Sports Emmy award back in May.
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
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