Nick Saban reveals how Thanksgiving bonds him and his players

Thanksgiving is one of the most exciting times of the year in Tuscaloosa. It’s almost bowl season, the Tide is rolling and turkey is being served at the Saban household.

Members of the roster are welcome to come and eat with Nick Saban and family, too, he revealed. It has turned into a yearly tradition that Alabama players have come to love out of their head coach.

“We usually have a really good Thanksgiving,” Saban revealed on his pre-Thanksgiving coaches show. “We usually have a really big Thanksgiving because our family gets joined by, I think I already mentioned this, but like 15 players on the team and it’s good for the players to see for me. To see them, not on the field playing, in a meeting, and seeing them in another environment, too.

“I always like to have the players over and take them out on the boat to go tubing, whatever. I think it’s good for them to see me and our family in a more natural setting and see that we have a dog and we’re just like a lot of other people.”

It gets even better, though. Saban revealed a side of himself that not many get to see.

On Saturdays, the whole world gets to see Saban bark orders and chew out his players on the field and sidelines during pregame warmups until they’re in the tunnel postgame. In a closed setting, he’s more relaxed — and prone to be made fun of by his players.

“They figure it out, and they’re on me all the time,” he continued. “I mean, they were on me yesterday because it was a little bit cold and I got on one of them because they had their tights on, so then they were all betting that I had my tights on so I had to prove to them that I didn’t. They know how to get on me.”

Picturing Nick Saban in spandex is hilarious — but picturing Saban having to prove that he isn’t wearing them is something better kept behind closed doors.

Once turkey time is through, however, fun and games are over and it’s time to suit up for the Iron Bowl — arguably the most anticipated game on the Crimson Tide’s schedule each season. Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET live on CBS, as Alabama heads into Thanksgiving day as a 14-point favorites over their bitter rival.