Steve Sarkisian joined several SEC coaches in praising Nick Saban at media days

Nick Saban was at SEC Media Days in Dallas this week. However, for the first time since before 2007, Saban wasn’t one of the head coaches previewing his team in front of the media. Instead, he was part of ESPN and the SEC Network’s coverage of Media Days, offering unique analysis and insight only a coach of his stature could provide.

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He was often in the room when head coaches addressed all the gathered media at the Omni, and Steve Sarkisian was one of several coaches who made sure to acknowledge the contributions made to the game from the seven-time national champion.

“I know everybody has been coming up talking about it, and you know you’ve impacted a lot of people who have been up on this stage,” Sarkisian said on Wednesday. “No one have you impacted more than me. I would not be standing here today without you and what you’ve meant to my career, to my life, and I can’t thank you enough, and the impact that you’ve had on our game has been second to none, and I just can’t thank you enough. I want to be able to publicly do that to you, Coach. Thank you very, very much.”

Sarkisian wasn’t the only one to offer praise to the greatest coach the game has ever seen as SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and other head coaches acknowledged the presence of the former LSU and Alabama coach.

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SEC commissioner Greg Sankey

“What can Nick do? Well, help us avoid rat poison would be the first on the list. He and I spoke — it was a couple days after the announcement of his retirement, and I think one of Nick’s observations, I think it’s fine to share, is the ability to be influential in a different role outside of coaching. He and I probably dealt with, well, you’re doing this because Nick thinks it’s competitively favorable.

One of the things I’ve found over time is Nick in many ways uniquely thought ahead on issues, provided really deep and clear insight, and he and I have had any number of conversations over — this is my tenth year as commissioner, but I’ve been in the SEC for 23 years, and but for the two years he was with the Dolphins, were in conversation throughout those couple of decades.

So I think he can bring that clarity. I think he can bring an understanding that even I don’t have dealing with these issues on the front lines as a head football coach, and I know he brings love of the game overall to an analysis.

I have seen him engage in conversations already in a big picture problem solving way, and I hope that will continue, and he can evaluate my performance, since he’s sitting in the room listening, my performance in answering that question.”

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin

“Just very appreciative to Coach Saban, who called the other day and stopped me and talked to me there. In respect to Coach Saban as terms, this is really, as he said, this is a rat poison situation here to have all this attention on our players, and it means nothing because it’s all about the work that they put in, the process they do daily, they’re working extremely hard this summer, and then we’re going to have a lot of work to do in training camp.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart

“Couple words I want to say to Coach Saban, who meant so much to me in my career. First of all, the words he shared at the ESPYs the other night were incredible, very touching, very moving. What he’s meant to myself, my family, as a mentor, as a friend, as a competitor, that drives to you get better.

There was never a day in 11 years I worked for him that we didn’t share a room in some sort. Whether that was the defensive room, defensive back room, staff room, and I think it made me who I am today.

Because the demand for excellence is met by none other than him. So that standard that he set for me, day in and day out, he met himself. Every coach that ever worked with him or for him will tell that you he does it all himself as well.

He doesn’t hold you to any different standard than himself. So a lot of the success I’ve had I give credit to him and thanks. I know he’ll being critiquing me today, so I am looking forward to that as well.

But he has started responding to texts. I told people the other day, that’s the first time ever. Either somebody has his phone or he learned how to text. That makes all of us in his circle of friends proud because we get to reach out to him.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer

“Before I open it up for questions, I do just want to say — I know I haven’t seen Coach around here, but I do want to first of all congratulate Coach. I thought it was really cool winning the ESPY the other night and got a chance to — it seemed like every time I got a chance to see the speech, it was just a little blurb. Finally got to see the whole thing, and there’s always something that we’ve taken from those speeches.

Well deserved with that honor, and then personally and from I think on behalf of everyone with Alabama football and the University of Alabama, we appreciate everything Coach has done to make this foundation strong to where we can continue to build on it, continue to help make those that are supportive of our program proud, and just appreciate all those years and hard work that’s been put into this.”

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman

“The other thing I want to say is about Coach Saban. When Coach Saban had interest in me it changed Jamie and I’s life. It changed our life financially, changed our life in myself having confidence in my ability.

Then whenever I went to the head coach’s meeting, it goes in alphabetical order and I sit right next to Coach Saban. I’m not saying he took me under his wing, but I was nervous sitting next to him. I’m sure I asked him more questions than what he might have want to answer. But he answers every one of them.

I think there is a reason why I went and worked for Kirby at Georgia. Had a lot to do with Coach Saban. Derek Dooley started at Tennessee, but Coach Saban is the GOAT and he is someone that our league is going to miss dearly.”

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Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops

“Also Coach Saban, I want to recognize him by retiring. I’ve been in the league now 12 years, and I really enjoyed being around Coach and listening to him in meetings. A lot of people ask me what he’s like or thinking that he’s overbearing or demanding in there. Don’t get me wrong, Coach is passionate at times. But always, it was never about self-interest. To me, he always was worried about college football. He was worried about the betterment of college football and making young people better. I truly believed that.”