Nick Saban shares his final thoughts before Alabama's game at Auburn

Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s radio show was moved up one night to Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. But as he does every week, Saban shared a final word to fans before departing Baumhower’s Victory Grille. He started off by both thanking Crimson Tide fans and sharing the message to his players prior to the team’s regular-season finale at Auburn.

“I think the big thing that we’re trying to do with our team and I think everyone’s support is certainly appreciated in this. It’s been great this year,” Saban said. “Y’all have had great patience with his team, and this team’s transformation has been pretty astonishing to get to this point and create this opportunity. But to pay attention to what you have to do to continue upward improvement to be a dangerous team, your opponent really doesn’t affect that. 

“You affect it by what you control and what you do and what you think and, what I said before, what do you choose to pay attention to. I think that’s what our entire fan base needs to do.” 

Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC) has steadily improved since a Week 2 loss to Texas, winning its next eight games, and has already clinched its spot in the SEC Championship Game. But the No. 8 Crimson Tide must continue to play well and get a win at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25, in order to remain in the discussion for a College Football Playoff spot.

Auburn will undoubtedly have the home-field advantage, but Saban thanked the Alabama fans who make the trip over to Lee County to support the Crimson Tide on the road in advance.

“I know this difficult place to play, but I also know that when we get there on the bus and there’s a bunch of fans there when we’re getting off the bus, there’s a calming effect that goes with that when you play on the road,” Saban said. “You know that you got some people there, you know you got some family there, you know you got some people that care about you and that’s really important, and it’s going to be important for us in this game. 

“Everybody’s been fantastic all season long.”

Alabama won revenge games against two of its other rivals, Tennessee and LSU earlier this fall in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Saban and the players praised the home crowd for the environment it created for the visiting teams. The wins over the Vols and Tigers were huge at the time and are still vital to the Tide’s resume as top-15 victories entering this final stretch.

But UA is working to build on the momentum it has created and finish the season strong in order to leave no doubt about its place in the postseason. That starts with Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

“We just want to keep this team developing and continuing to grow and develop momentum and peak at the right time,” Saban said. “And this is going to be a really challenging game for us, and we’re excited about having the opportunity and I’m excited for this team getting themselves in a position to have an opportunity to do this. 

“So we’re looking forward to a great game and we’re looking forward to all your support and help, and we’re just going to go for it, man. We’ve got to go for it.”

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