Ever since Nick Saban came to Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide had been absolutely rolling. With six championships, nine SEC titles, and a 206-29 overall record, Saban, who returned to college football after an unsuccessful stint with the Miami Dolphins, became an Alabama legend. However, even after devouring six championships, Saban has a sore point. And it’s all about the $115 million head coach.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney beat Alabama twice. Saban was almost there, hoisting the national championship cup in the 2018 national championship game. He had Tua Tagovailoa, who was the No. 2 player nationally in scoring offense (47.7 points per game). Boasting a 41:4 TD to interception ratio, Alabama was set to make some noise. But the Tigers crushed them, 44-16. In a conversation with Pat McAfee, Saban let out his emotions about that biting loss.

“We won 19 games in a row twice in Alabama, and the 20th game we lost. I can’t sit here and say the other team was better than us. They were good, but they weren’t better than us, and we just didn’t play very well,” said Saban. Tua threw two interceptions, two turnovers, amassing six penalties for 60 yards, while the Tigers got one flag for 12 yards. Bama somewhat had a momentum in the first quarter, 13-14, although dominated by Clemson, but after that, it was a nightmare. The second quarter tallied 3-17. The Tigers were winning through the second half, chipping in 13 points, while the Tide went zero. He took responsibility for the loss. “I think the responsibility for us not playing well really starts with me.”

Two years before that, Clemson hammered Bama, a win. 35-31. A loss to Bama nonetheless. “Well, we needed to lose,” Saban added. “And both cases we needed to lose, we were complacent. We weren’t paying attention to detail. You know? I mean, when you win, it’s why we practice them today. When you lose, when are we practicing? Big difference in there.” To this, McAfee nodded. “Certainly, and also a celebration can kind of cover up a lot of bad traits that are maybe taking place for the team.”

Dabo Swinney’s stock skyrocketed. A 15-0 undefeated season, and it seemed like Christmas festivities never stopped. They became the first 15-0 undefeated program in the history of major college football. The HC’s reactions? “Our guys had the eye of the tiger.”

Dabo might have handed Nick Saban a biting defeat, but the Alabama legend saw something more: A successor to his legacy.

Nick Saban wanted Dabo Swinney to be his successor

After a 201-29 record over nearly two decades, six national championship wins, and two undefeated seasons, Saban bid farewell to his coaching career. Although speculations remained that it was the NIL element, earning his ire.

A lot of names popped up to fill in his shoes, but Saban wanted Dabo Swinney, a former Alabama player himself, to take the reins. On3’s Chris Low revealed on the Beat Everybody podcast. “Nick called Dabo the next morning, those guys are close, to let him know what was going through his mind. And I think, just to talk to him, where Dabo was in his career.” But the Athletic Director didn’t appear keen on the possibility. He continued. “Greg Byrne made this call, and I don’t think Dabo was ever really seriously in consideration as far as Greg Byrne was concerned.” Swinney was hitting big at Clemson with 14 bowl appearances and his national championship-winning tag.

But the former Alabama player turned coach had an Alabama clause, which might have made the financial and legal hurdles too much to cross. Swinney had a 10-year $115 contract with the Tigers, with an additional sweet spot. The Alabama buyout with a $9 million tag, which was three million more than any other school. However, a personal factor also loomed close to his heart. “Now, I don’t know from Dabo’s perspective if, at that point in his career, he was ready to leave Clemson. He’s got a great thing going. He’s been there for a long time,” he added. Dabo had rebuilt the program. Leaving the program that he built seemed far too much.

Eventually, Kalen Deboer was appointed as the new head coach.