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

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.”

It’s worked for Saban throughout his collegiate coaching career, and anyone who doubts him or Alabama at this point is a fool. Even with a team this season that many don’t believe in as strongly as in seasons past, you can never count out the Crimson Tide.

As long as Nick Saban continues roaming the sidelines, a College Football Playoff berth is always on the table, and a championship could be coming to Tuscaloosa.