Nick Saban reacts to Alabama fans' emotions about his retirement

When the news of Nick Saban retiring hit the news, you have to believe nobody in Tuscaloosa knew what to do. Somebody who has been in charge of the program for the last 17 seasons was abruptly gone. For a lot of students, they do not know anything related to Alabama football without Saban at the forefront.

As the night wore on, people began to gather outside of Saban’s statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Different things were being left there, ranging from Coke bottles to Little Debbies. Even a bag of ice was left there overnight as people paid tribute to the head coach.

In a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Rece Davis, Saban was asked about the fan’s emotions surrounding his retirement. He thanked all of the program’s supporters, saying it dates back to when he was initially hired in 2007. People came out to cheer the Crimson Tide on and they were rewarded throughout the years.

“We’ve had some great fans here,” Saban said. “We’ve had great support. I’ve never felt more welcomed than the first time we had an A-Day game here. Had 95,000 people come to A-Day. That kind of support, that kind of passion, to have a good program, is one of the things that has contributed to the success that we’ve had. I feel honored that these people acknowledge the fact that they contributed to the success of the program… I appreciate the fact that people have kind of respect for what we have been able to accomplish.”

Saban is one of the few statues outside of the stadium, signifying a coach winning a national championship for Alabama. Behind him are six different years, an incredible journey the fans will remember for the rest of their lives. The first came in 2009, while the final one occurred during the 2020 season.

Now, a new era is upon us in Tuscaloosa. Athletic director Greg Byrne said there should be some kind of movement on the next head coach before the end of the week, with Alabama wanting to make a quick move. Saban is still expected to be involved with the program but obviously not to the extent he used to be.

Fans are going to continue to be emotional through the coaching search, wanting to sustain the standard of excellence they learned under Saban. Whoever does wind up being hired by Alabama should have the support of the entire fan base.