Latest news with #Saban
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nick Saban, paired with Ryan Day at The Memorial, opens up abut Day and Julian Sayin
Nick Saban, paired with Ryan Day at The Memorial, opens up abut Day and Julian Sayin Most diehard Ohio State football fans don't have to be reminded that former Alabama head coach Nick Saban once coached at OSU. Not head coach, mind you, but he was an assistant as the defensive backs coach from 1980 to 1981 when he was working his way up the coaching ladder. It may have just been a cup of coffee on the banks of the Olentangy, but he doesn't forget the time under Earle Bruce. Saban is back in Columbus this week, for a reason you probably wouldn't guess. The Memorial Tournament is teeing off this weekend, and he came to be a part of all of the fun. As a fan, sure, but also as a participant in the "Golden Bear Pro-Am" that takes place before the annual professional event. And who was put in a trio with? None other than current Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. Saban was gracious enough to do a short interview coming off one of the greens, and he first touched on his relationship with Day and how he felt about him bringing home a College Football Playoff national title. "Ryan and I are pretty good friends," Saban told local ESPN radio station 97.1 The Fan. "It was nice to see him win the national championship last year. I used to coach at Ohio State, so I got a little Buckeye in me. So it's great." Saban then went on to talk about the presumptive starter under center for the Buckeyes this year, a guy he recruited and landed at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State, Julian Sayin. 'Julian's a great young man,' Saban said. 'I think he's getting bigger and stronger, but he's got really good touch, really good accuracy, good judgment. He's a really good young player.' You can watch the complete, albeit short, interview below, where Saban also discusses Day's challenge going forward. At this point, we should all listen to what arguably the greatest college football head coach of all time has to say. He's been great in the media after retirement, and he's been nothing but supportive for Day and the Ohio State program when given the chance. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alabama Sends Clear Message to Nick Saban After Major Career Accomplishment
Nick Saban has accomplished just about everything in the world of college football. At 73, his journey in the sport dates back to his playing days in 1970. The only time he stepped away from college football was during a brief stint as head coach of the Miami Dolphins and as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers in the NFL. Saban retired from coaching on Jan. 10, 2024, making way for Kalen DeBoer to take over as head coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. But retirement didn't keep Saban on the sidelines for long. He quickly joined ESPN's "College GameDay," stepping into a new role as a college football analyst. Advertisement And now, he has earned an award he had never won before. Alabama football shared the news on its official social media channels: "Leadership, Legacy, and now… an Emmy. " Saban was honored with the 2025 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Emerging On-Air Talent. It's the first Sports Emmy of his career and only the second time an ESPN talent has received the award in that category. While he's often seen rolling his eyes at fellow commentator Pat McAfee on set, Saban has offered sharp, insightful commentary on the game he helped define. Most recently, he has been linked to President Donald Trump as a potential co-chair for a proposed commission on the future of college athletics. Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Nick Saban coached Alabama to 201 wins and notched 292 total victories in his head coaching career. Under his leadership, Alabama never lost more than two games in any of his final 13 seasons. He captured seven national championships, with his last coming in 2020. Advertisement Saban was twice named Walter Camp Coach of the Year and won the Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year award three times. In 2024, he received the ESPY Icon Award and has since been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Saban's legacy goes beyond football. His Nick's Kids Foundation has donated over $13 million to more than 150 charities. Following a devastating tornado in Tuscaloosa, he helped rebuild 22 homes with Habitat for Humanity. He has also made several $1 million donations to support first-generation college scholarships, Alabama athletics and St. Francis Catholic Church. His latest project, the Saban Center, will serve as home to a STEM Discovery Center, the Alabama STEM Hub and the Tuscaloosa Children's Theater, continuing his commitment to education and youth development. Related: $1.3 Million Quarterback Makes Major NIL Move Before Freshman Season at Alabama Related: Urban Meyer Calls for Rule That Would Get Michigan Coach Fired
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Legendary Coach Nick Saban to Shape Future of College Athletics in Presidential Commission
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is expected to co-chair a new presidential commission on college sports reform, initiated by President Donald Trump. The commission aims to address significant issues in college athletics, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments, transfer rules, and conference alignments. Advertisement A source told The Athletic that Saban, a vocal critic of the current NIL system, will work alongside a prominent businessman with deep ties to college athletics. The initiative follows a meeting between Trump and Saban at the University of Alabama's spring graduation, where they reportedly discussed the state of college sports. The outlet also reports that the President will be 'very engaged' with the commission as they attempt to steer collegiate sports in a better direction. Saban responded to the news late last night on X, writing, 'It's Time to get College Football back on Track!!!' Nick Saban's Next Big Challenge – Fixing College Sports The commission, behind the leadership of 7-time National Champion coach Nick Saban, is expected to examine booster-funded payments, athlete employment debates, and Title IX applications, among other topics. Advertisement This move comes amid a transformative period in college sports, driven by relaxed transfer rules and NIL earnings, which have given athletes unprecedented power. Let's face it, the transfer portal process is absurd, sometimes leading athletes to jump around to multiple schools to fish for more playing time. And NIL is turning athletes from certain sports or with particular looks into multi-millionaires, regardless of talent level. Shedeur Sanders, a fifth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, was a top NIL earner, as was LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne. They are nowhere near the top of their respective sports. A potential $2.78 billion NCAA settlement addressing antitrust lawsuits is also in progress, highlighting a perceived need for federal legislation. Advertisement Past presidential interventions, like the 1975 Olympic Sports Commission, suggest long-term impacts from such efforts. Critics, including athletes' attorneys, express concern that Saban's involvement may prioritize institutional interests over players' financial freedoms. It is a legitimate concern. RELATED: Alabama legend Nick Saban reportedly recruits President Trump into crusade against NIL money in college football This Doesn't Work Anymore Nick Saban shocked the college football world when he retired at the beginning of 2024, mentioning NIL money as a significant factor in his decision. Advertisement In an interview with ESPN, Saban would later explain that the behavior of some of his players following Alabama's 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan that year in the CFP semifinal was disheartening. 'I want to be clear that wasn't the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,' Saban said of his decision to retire. 'I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the game. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with class.' 'We had our opportunities to win the game and we didn't do it, and then showing your ass and being frustrated and throwing helmets and doing that stuff … that's not who we are and what we've promoted in our program.' He went on to discuss with his players the potential to field a great team the next season, but found they were solely interested in two things: 'What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?' Advertisement 'So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different, and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?'' Saban continued. 'I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years.' College players shouldn't be faulted for wanting to find ways to make money from their athletic careers, especially when 90% of them will not go on to big paydays in professional sports. But something has to be done to fix the issues. We haven't even touched on the fact that it's nearly impossible for these student-athletes to focus on or want to focus on their education when there is social media money to be made and they're transferring to different schools three times in two years. Advertisement Can Saban help make college sports great again? It might be his biggest challenge yet. Also Read:: Tom Brady Shares Words of Wisdom for Shedeur Sanders' After Draft Slide
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nick Saban discusses what Jalen Milroe can give to the Seahawks
Nick Saban discusses what Jalen Milroe can give to the Seahawks When a team takes a high profile quarterback in the draft, he tends to be one of the key focal points of the offseason. Such is... and will continue to be... the case with Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe. Easily one of the most intriguing prospects from the draft, Milroe's ceiling is sky high... provided he gets the refinement he needs. There's been plenty of analysis of what Milroe can and can't do, but who better to give such insight than his former college head coach? During the NFL draft, former Alabama head coach-turned-ESPN analyst Nick Saban was gleefully discussing his old quarterback. Now, admittedly, this clip is a bit older from the draft, but since I personally was not watching ESPN's draft coverage, this is the first time it's crossed my path. Regardless of age, Saban's perspective on any player - especially his quarterback - is always welcome, and worth the time to watch. Ultimately, Saban says a lot about what we know about Milroe: elite talent, but needs some work. However, it's clear the greatest college football coach of all time is high on Milroe, and speaks glowingly of the quarterback who helped lead the Tide to one last SEC championship and College Football Playoff appearance in Saban's final year in Tuscaloosa. Saban's full comments can be seen in the Tweet below, and they are worth a watch if you have not seen them already.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Reports: Donald Trump's proposed presidential commission put on hold
According to reports, plans to create a presidential commission to oversee key issues in college sports have been placed on hold. The commission championed by President Donald Trump was slated to be headed by former Alabama football coach Nick Saban and ex-Texas Tech offensive lineman Cody Campbell, who's now the chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents. The commission idea gained steam after May 1, when Trump spoke at the University of Alabama's graduation ceremony that also included an address from Saban. With multiple issues clouding the college sports landscape - including powerful Name, Image, Likeness questions that the courts and Congress have been trying to answer - the presidential commission sounded like another avenue to find solutions. But two weeks after meeting with Trump in Tuscaloosa, Saban appeared on "The Paul Finebaum Show" and claimed the commission might not be necessary. "I think that a lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them," Saban told Finebaum. "I think the key to the drill is getting people together so we can move it forward. I'm not opposed to players making money. I don't want anybody to think that. I just think the system, the way it's going right now, it's not sustainable and probably not in the best interests of the student-athletes across the board or the game itself." Presumably, putting the presidential commission on the back burner suggests other legislative avenues are making headway. According to The Athletic, a bipartisan Congressional group led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has devoted "hundreds of hours" to solving what ails college sports. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
