Nick Saban reassures Alabama fans he feels 'just fine' at 72 years old

Just under two days until the Rose Bowl, pregame activities have begun for the Alabama Crimson Tide. One of those is Nick Saban talking during his radio show, even taking a call or two from fans out there. This usually provides great moments, with another being produced on Saturday night.

A lot of questions have been asked about Alabama and its players. One caller decided to take a different approach, asking Saban about himself. Being 72 years old, there is a continual wonder about when Saban would retire. Well, he assured all the fans out there that he feels fine.

“I’m doing just fine,” Saban said while laughing. “I appreciate the fact that you’re 68 and I can relate. You know, when you get a little older, sometimes you don’t sleep as well as you used to. Things like that. But we’ve learned to overcome all of those things and we’re doing just fine.”

There is only one active older head coach than Saban — Mack Brown and North Carolina. He should be returning for another season in Chapel Hill, keeping Saban’s name off the top of the list. Even so, not too many people are able to coach at the highest level at this age.

Brown has stepped away from football before, moving into a media role following his time in Austin with Texas. He eventually got back in the game after some time off. But Saban has never taken time off and has consistently been working toward the next national championship.

Retirement is not something Saban is thinking about. He was asked about the idea at the beginning of the season, saying it was “laughable.”

“It’s kind of laughable,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show back in September. “I guess I would ask you: When’s the first time you heard I was going to retire? That started about five years ago. I think it creates some advantages for people, whether it’s in recruiting or whatever it might be.”

Saban is definitely not retiring before Monday’s Rose Bowl against Michigan, looking to extend his good streak in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Two more wins and it would be national championship No. 8 for Saban and his seventh while in Tuscaloosa.

Based on the way he talks, there will be plenty of more attempts to hoist the CFP trophy. No matter what happens in the coming days, Saban wants to be around.