Nick Saban tells former Alabama, current LSU wideout Aaron Anderson 'you'd be playing more here'

After whatever message was sent in a 42-28 win over LSU, Alabama head coach Nick Saban had a more specific message to pass on to one of his former players. And the TV cameras caught the moment between Saban and current LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson.

Anderson, who transferred to LSU from Alabama this past offseason, has had a relatively quiet time in Baton Rouge so far. Saban, in a good-natured way, prodded Anderson about the opportunity he had passed up in leaving the Crimson Tide.

“You’d be playing more here than you are there,” Saban said, pointing briefly over at the now-vacated visitors sideline in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"You'd be playing more here than you are there."

Saban to his former player Aaron Anderson 😳 pic.twitter.com/elLmKV03Ov

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 5, 2023

Anderson originally committed and signed with Alabama out of high school, spending one season in Tuscaloosa. He appeared in one game for Alabama last year while being hampered by injury. He 12 receptions for 59 yards through nine games with LSU this year.

And while Saban was partially prodding at his former player, the reality remains: Alabama doesn’t have a wealth of receivers jockeying for playing time. Had Anderson hung around, it seems Saban might be trying to feature him prominently.

The win was something of a late birthday present for Saban

As Alabama came out of the bye week and got ready to take on LSU, the Crimson Tide had some celebrating to do. Saban turned 72 years old on Monday, and he knew exactly what he wanted for his birthday: a complete, team performance against the Tigers.

Boy, did he get it. Alabama totaled 507 yards of offense and put up 42 points to come away with the 42-28 victory over LSU at Bryant Denny Stadium. Jalen Milroe was a big part of that, totaling 374 yards — 219 in the air and 155 on the ground — four rushing touchdowns to lead the effort.

The goal, of course, was to beat rival LSU. But Milroe knew there was another reason to get the win.

“No. 1 thing, it was Coach’s birthday this week. So that was a birthday gift right there,” Milroe told CBS’ Jenny Dell with a wink and a smile.

In addition to getting a big win for Saban’s birthday, Milroe said the goal remained the same. The Tide had to avoid getting too far ahead of themselves and just keep getting better.

“The message in the locker room was just one play at a time, constantly wanting to build and grow as we approached the field and as a team, [get a] collective win,” Milroe said. “I’m proud of the guys.”