Nick Saban has been retired from coaching the Alabama Crimson Tide for just over a year, and in that time, college football has seen significant changes. The sport was already evolving before he decided to retire, but it’s interesting to consider how different things might be today if not for a pivotal decision Saban made years ago.
Shaping the future of an entire sport is no small feat, but Saban’s influence on college football was undeniable. After a two-season stint with the Miami Dolphins, he returned to college football and achieved remarkable success at Alabama.
Seventeen seasons, nine SEC titles, six national championships, and 206 wins later, Saban’s dominance was unmatched, forcing the sport to continuously adjust its rules to try to stop him.
However, this era of dominance almost never happened. Tuscaloosa almost missed out on becoming a powerhouse dynasty because Saban nearly stayed at LSU after the 2004 season.
“When I left LSU, that was probably, professionally, the biggest mistake I ever made,” Saban reflected on The Pivot Podcast. “Not because we didn’t have success at Miami—I enjoyed coaching in Miami. But I found out in that experience that I liked coaching in college better because you could develop players personally, academically, athletically and all that a little more than in pro ball.”
“No disrespect to Alabama—it’s not Alabama versus LSU. It’s just… Jimmy Sexton stood on a balcony when I was getting ready to leave LSU and make a decision about whether I went to Miami or stayed at LSU. And he said, ‘What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or do you want to be Bear Bryant?’ And without hesitation, I said, ‘Bear Bryant.’ And he said, ‘What are you doing going to Miami?'”
Sexton, Saban’s long-time agent, almost played a crucial role in shaping the coach’s future. Looking back, it’s intriguing to consider how the paths of LSU, Alabama, and the Dolphins might have been altered if Sexton had persuaded Saban to remain at LSU.
Saban finished his LSU tenure with a 48-16 record and a national title in 2003. His two seasons with the Dolphins resulted in a 15-17 record. In the end, Saban’s legacy in college football is often compared to that of Alabama’s legendary coach Bear Bryant, cementing him as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Ultimately, Saban achieved the legacy he desired after all.
