Nick Saban: 'We're not enjoying life after getting beat'

Just three days ago, Nick Saban walked off the field at the Rose Bowl moments after Alabama lost to Michigan. There would be no eighth national championship for Saban and the 2023 season was over. A heartbreaking loss in overtime, you could understand if some time needed to pass before getting over the loss.

Well, as Saban does, he has already flipped the switch to the 2024 season. Nobody involved with Alabama is happy at the moment but they have to continue to prepare for this upcoming fall. Whether it’s recruiting, the NCAA transfer portal, or making NFL Draft decisions, it’s still a busy time for the program.

“Well, we’re not enjoying life after getting beat, I can tell you that,” Saban said via the Pat McAfee Show. “I think it’s always a motivation for you when the season doesn’t end like you want it to. You know, players are usually hungry and want to prove something and hopefully, that’ll be the case with our team. But I think the big thing right now is trying to manage the roster and keep the team together as best we can.”

If we’re being honest, Alabama would be going through the same process even if they were playing in the College Football Playoff. Saban and the current roster would just have one more game to play and probably in higher spirits. The sport’s calendar never really sleeps and is constantly going 100 miles per hour.

Roster management certainly is taking place for Saban. Double-digit players have entered the portal, while multiple stars have declared for the NFL Draft. However, key players have announced their return for the 2024 season and should play a significant role. Keeping a guy such as Malachi Moore around is the type of roster boost Alabama needs when down in the dumps.

This feeling of not enjoying life after a season is becoming all too familiar for Alabama, though. Each of the three past reasons has resulted in no national championship, the longest drought in the Saban era. Most fan bases would laugh at that being an issue but Saban has built a standard for himself in Tuscaloosa.

Now, the goal is to work toward being happier this time in 2025. Alabama has been on quite a few revenge tours in recent times but has not been able to finish the job. Other go at it begins right now.