Official: Alabama to name field at Bryant-Denny Stadium after Nick Saban
Nick Saban already has a statue in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium, but now, the former Alabama head coach will be immortalized inside the arena where he coached the last 17 seasons.
On Friday, the UA System Board of Trustees Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee met virtually and considered the “Resolution Approving a Naming at Bryant-Denny Stadium at UA.” During the meeting, it was announced that the field inside the stadium in Tuscaloosa will be named “Saban Field” after the legendary head football coach.
“It is fitting that there will be another name of a transformational leader added to our place of greatness,” said UA president Stuart Bell. “It’s even more fitting that the field, the focus of this place, be named in Coach Saban’s honor. This will be the first time in almost a century that the field upon which the Crimson Tide competes will be named. For generations to come, legends will be made, transformational impact will continue on Saban Field.”
The unveiling of Nick Saban Field will take place Saturday, Sept. 7, during the Crimson Tide’s home football game against South Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Saban retired from coaching on Jan. 10, choosing to step away after an iconic career. He is now working as an analyst for ESPN and will be on College GameDay broadcasts this fall.
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Saban compiled a 297-71-1 record as a college coach. He has claimed seven national championships – six at Alabama – 11 conference championships, and 23 of his teams will have played in bowl games, including a trip to the BCS National Championship Game following the 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons and the College Football Playoff semifinals in seven of the last nine seasons, including six of the last eight national title games.
Saban is the only coach to win four BCS national titles, the only coach to win back-to-back BCS national championships and the only coach to win three CFP national championships. He has won seven titles in his last 17 years of coaching, most recently capturing the CFP national title after the 2020 season. Saban is one of three college coaches in the poll era (since 1936) to win three championships in four years (2009, 2011-12). His title in 2020 moved him past Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most championships in the poll era with seven.
“This is a very special honor,” Saban said. “I don’t think there could be anything that honors the hard work and the example that we tried to set for our community, our university and our program and all the players in it as to what you all have decided to do here today. Terry and I certainly have the utmost gratitude for this great legacy type of award that by naming the field for us. So I can’t tell you how honored and how much appreciation we have for that.”
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