Heather Dinich rebuffs notion that missing College Football Playoff would damage Nick Saban's legacy

ESPN’s Heather Dinich had some interesting sentiments when pressed regarding Nick Saban‘s legacy moving forward.

Many have theorized Saban’s legacy could take a hit if he’s unable to make the College Football Playoff for a consecutive season. Asked about it during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Dinich explained that she believes while it may happen in the eyes of some, it shouldn’t be the case.

“It could, but it shouldn’t,” Dinich responded, asked whether missing the College Football Playoff would stain Saban’s legacy. “Look, here’s the reality of the situation. I think there’s more pressure on Nick Saban to win the SEC, because if you win the SEC, you are in the College Football Playoff with four teams right now. Now it’s very realistic that he could win the SEC and lose in the National Championship Game. Are people going to criticize him then, for losing in the national title game? Nick Saban has won six national titles at Alabama, three since 2015.

“If Kirby Smart goes and three-peats, he will absolutely make history, but he still will have won half as many as Nick Saban has in his career at Alabama, and no one has made more national championship appearances, no one has made more CFP appearance. So could it take a hit? Yeah, but when you look on paper, it absolutely should not.”

Arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, Nick Saban’s legacy is cemented in many ways, but another championship certainly won’t hurt. Heather Dinich believes there’s nowhere to go but up, as Sagan’s standing among the legends of the sport won’t be changed, even if Alabama disappoints moving forward.

Nick Saban reveals what still motivates him to keep coaching into his 70s

Continuing, Nick Saban has endless reserves of motivation he seems to tap into each season for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

How else could you explain how much winning Saban has done throughout his time in Tuscaloosa. Some coaches would’ve taken their championship rings and rode off into the sunset, having a statue built of them and being revered for life by Crimson Tide faithful, but the 71-year-old Saban is still manning the sideline.

As SEC Media Days rage on, Saban took some time to join Mike Greenberg on Get Up, where he elaborated on his will to keep coaching the legendary Alabama football team.

“I think, the way I look at it is every season is like a new challenge, so this season is like having a new team, taking a new job,” started Saban. “You’ve got older guys who have experience that need to become leaders. You have younger guys who you know, need to develop in the program so that they can contribute in a positive way. You’ve got new coaches that, which you’re trying to get on the same page. You’ve got great competition, in terms of the teams that you have to play. The coaches that they have, the players that they have. So it’s just a great challenge, every year.” 

Alas, that’s a tremendous way to keep everything in perspective, as Saban has been able to do each season. Continuing, the Alabama leader explained that he doesn’t ever reminisce on his past success, allowing a fresh start for each year to fill in the blanks.

“I don’t ever look backwards, I’m always looking forward,” added the Crimson Tide leader. “This is just a challenging opportunity each season, especially in a league like the SEC. So that’s kind of where the hunger comes from, it’s the what are we going to do this time. 

“In football, and in most sports, you’re only as good as your last play, so we’re trying to focus on that.”