Steve Sarkisian expects Nick Saban to do great during first year in the media
Not only did Nick Saban retire this offseason, but the legendary college football coach also joined the media. Saban, 72, joined ESPN and will primarily serve as an analyst for “College GameDay.”
He’s already assisted with the network’s coverage of the NFL Draft and SEC Media Days.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, notably Saban’s offensive coordinator during the Crimson Tide’s national title run in 2020, is confident Saban’s television success will continue into the fall.
“I think he’s going to do great, man,” Sarkisian said on the “The Dan Patrick Show” Monday. “I’ve seen him a few times, and I saw him obviously at SEC Media Days.
“I watched him covering the NFL Draft. He’s so knowledgeable. And he’s got so much more personality than people probably give him credit for, but his insight is really incredible. I could sit there and listen to him all day.”
In addition to coordinating what might have been Saban’s best offense — the Crimson Tide broke school records with 48.5 points and 541.6 yards per game en route to their national championship in 2020 — Sarkisian was part of the Alabama staff during the 2016 season.
Sarkisian battled alcoholism and, ultimately, was fired from his job as USC head coach during the 2015 season. Over the next year and change, Saban gave Sarkisian an opportunity to stay in the coaching ranks as well as, eventually, a chance to step in as interim offensive coordinator in the national title game at the end of the 2016 campaign.
At that point, Alabama OC Lane Kiffin had taken the Florida Atlantic head coaching job, and, following an up-and-down College Football Playoff semifinal win over Washington, Saban and Kiffin agreed to part ways. So Sarkisian took Kiffin’s spot and, despite a national championship loss to Clemson, began climbing back up the coaching ladder.
Sarkisian and Saban’s connection is well documented. The two squared off in a marquee non-conference matchup last season when CFP-bound Texas made a statement in Tuscaloosa with a 34-24 win. Now, Texas and Alabama are both in the SEC.
But Saban is in the studio.
“I think he’s going to do great,” Sarkisian said. “I think fans are really going to gravitate to wanting to hear him speak on games and strategy and different things that come up with the ball games.”
Saban won six national titles and 201 total games in 17 seasons as the head coach at Alabama. He also won a national title with LSU in 2003. As a college head coach, he never had a losing season.
He’s widely considered the greatest coach in college football history. Sarkisian believes Saban will be great in the media, too.