Jimbo Fisher reveals he was cheering for Alabama against Michigan

Former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher revealed he rooted for Nick Saban and Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Alabama fell short to Michigan 27-20 in overtime at the Rose Bowl and the Crimson Tide saw their season end. Despite being a division rival of Saban and Alabama, Fisher wanted to see his former colleague win.

Despite a public battle over recruiting and other things between the two, there’s still a lot of respect.

“Yeah I was, I was pulling for Alabama,” Fisher said on Pardon My Take. “Nick and I have been together a long time and I know everybody said we fight and argue and we did but like we came from the same area and we coached together and I know him and I want him to win. Not anything against Michigan, (I want them) to do well and I know Jesse (Minter) and them but I know Nick and the guys being in the league.”

There’s been a lot of conversation about Saban hanging it up, but it doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere after the playoff loss.

Saban previously said it was one of the best seasons he’s had as a coach. Even in defeat, he elaborated why after the Rose Bowl.

“Well, I just think that I don’t look at it necessarily from winning and losing, you won the championship, you can’t win the championship,” Saban said. “As a coach, you’re always trying to get your team to improve and be the best that they can be, and I think this team probably improved from the South Florida game and the Texas game early in the season as much as any team I’ve ever coached.

“That takes a lot of hard work. A lot of people being very committed to doing things that they need to do to self-assess and improve their game, and all these players bought in on this team and did it in first-class fashion.”

That type of buy in and commitment is why Saban wouldn’t sink his head after the loss. Plus, it could catapult the Crimson Tide in the future and perhaps to another national title victory.

“That’s why I think for me as a coach, maybe not for everybody else, it’s one of the teams that I’ll always remember the most and always be the most proud of,” Saban said.