WATCH: Alabama unveils signage for Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The playing field at Bryant-Denny Stadium officially has a new name.

On Saturday afternoon, three and a half hours before Alabama hosts South Florida, signage for Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium was unveiled in the ceremony at the head of the Walk of Champions on University Boulevard. UA president Stuart Bell, director of athletics Greg Byrne and former head coach Nick Saban shared remarks to the crowd.

“This is a great honor to have the field named after a legacy that we’ve been able to create here,” Saban said. “But I want this legacy to represent every player who played, who worked hard; every coach who helped those players develop; our administration who set a foundation where we had a chance to be successful by providing all the resources that we needed to have the best program in the country; and to you the fans who were always positive in terms of the way you supported our players, our program and all the things that we did.

“You’ve given more to me than we’ve given to you. You made us a part of this community 18 years ago, which we appreciate. It’s our home now. You’ve given us the opportunity to be the coach at one of the great universities in this country. And I can’t tell you how much that means to me that Mal Moore and Dr. Witt gave us an opportunity 18 years ago now to come here and try to elevate Alabama football to be one of the nationally respected programs in the country, and it was a great team that did it. Not me.

“My family made great sacrifices. You had great impact with your support in creating one of the best atmospheres in college football to play in in Bryant-Denny Stadium. This community embraced us when we came here. And I’m also proud of the fact that because we had such great support, we created a program that helped players be more successful in life. We could develop better people. We have 668 degrees in 17 years, which I’m very proud of, which is gonna help those guys have a better quality of life.

“And the number of wins and championships is all a reflection of the team, which is the players, the coaches, you, the fans, our administration and everybody who represents the program. So I can’t thank you enough for being here today, but I can thank you enough for the support that you’ve given us, in good times and in bad, in terms of helping our program be successful. 

“And we want to continue to make Alabama one of the outstanding football programs in the country but also one of the outstanding athletic programs in the country because I think it’s the window that people look at this great university, and the impact that we were able to have, by having successful program, has elevated our university. And I’m proud of the fact that we were able to contribute to that in so many ways.

“Thank you very much and Roll Tide.”

The Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution on July 19 approving the naming honor, and the Board of Trustees formally adopted the resolution in a meeting earlier this week.

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 is part of College GameDay’s broadcasts this fall. Saban was actually in Ann Arbor, Michigan this morning before a flight to Tuscaloosa. 

During the GameDay broadcast, several former players congratulated Saban on the honor.

After the first of two ceremonies today, the Sabans strolled down the Walk of Champions to take their first trip into Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. At halftime of the USF game, there will also be an on-field recognition at the end of the Million Dollar Band performance.

Alabama’s Week 2 home game against South Florida is set to kick off at 6 p.m. CT (ESPN).

*** This story will be updated.

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