Nick Saban is no longer active. The greatest college football coach in history, according to ESPN’s Chris Low, told the Alabama football team on Wednesday afternoon that he would not be returning for the 2024 campaign.
After winning seven national titles with the LSU Tigers and Crimson Tide, his career is over.
It was reported that 72-year-old Nick Saban was thinking about retiring before the 2023–2024 season. Those Tuscaloosa sources seem to have been accurate.
Regretfully, his illustrious career’s last play could not have been more disappointing. After a mishandled snap, Jalen Milroe ran a quarterback draw up the middle for no gain.
His 50 years as a college football player will always be remembered for Michigan charging onto the field.
Given how far his team progressed, 2023–24 was possibly the best season of his career. It is unfortunate that he ended on such a depressing note. The national titles are what people will remember. The 16-year run in which the Crimson Tide won more than 10 games annually will stick in their memories.
They’ll also recall how Milroe was stuffed after running up the middle.
What will soon be forgotten by supporters and detractors alike is where Alabama started this past season. In Week 2, Saban’s squad suffered a loss to Texas. In the rain, they looked terrible against South Florida. The score does not accurately reflect how close they came to losing to Ole Miss. However, the Crimson Tide manages to prevail.
Even the Iron Bowl is a prime illustration. Auburn had numerous chances to win, but Saban, his staff, and the team he handpicked managed to put together an incredible comeback drive that won the game.
It was never intended for the Alabama football team of 2023–2024 to make it to the College Football Playoffs. The score was never expected to be 11-1.
And yet, Alabama missed its seventh CFP National Championship appearance in nine years by three yards and one bungled snap in spite of all the uncertainty and outside chatter.
After a botched fourth-and-goal, Saban was benched. However, without one of the best single seasons of the greatest coaching career in college football history, his team would not have been in a position to lose in such a heartbreaking way.
Who is going to take his place? We’ll see. We’ll find out in time.
College football fans will have to put the ending behind them for the time being and honor Coach Saban’s legacy. Coach, congratulations! It’s been enjoyable.
