As if winning seven national championship titles and earning a GOAT tag weren’t enough for the former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach. When Nick Saban announced his sudden retirement from college football, fans were heartbroken, believing it marked the end of their beloved coach’s career. Little did they know a grand sequel awaited them, starring their favorite hero, Saban. “I want to stay busy,” Saban said, making it clear that his retirement wasn’t a cessation of work. He became a fixture everywhere, from TV shows to charity events to rounds of golf. Now? Even at 73, Saban’s trophy case keeps growing. Did the latest recognition merely end with receiving the award and taking it home? Not when it’s Saban; a heartfelt speech was sure to follow.

Already, Saban holds a pedestal seat in college football. Six championship wins at Alabama and one at LSU are NO JOKE. With 201 wins, he holds the second-most wins at a single school in SEC history, only behind Bear Bryant. He was also named an inductee for the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame. Saban can officially add another award to his name.

For so long, his awards have been related to his on-field antics. This time, the former Alabama head coach grabbed the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality/Emerging Talent for his work on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Was it an easy race? Definitely not. Saban had to beat out another ESPN stalwart, Jason Kelce, Prime Video’s Ryan Fitzpatrick and Richard Sherman, and CBS/TNT’s Jay Wright for the award.  

Now, this is not what one expects from a newcomer, right? But again, when it’s Saban, nothing is impossible. This past season was Saban’s first as a crew member on ESPN’s College GameDay pregame show. And he immediately gathered a huge fan base in the broadcasting world, too. Now, what has been Saban’s USP?

The seven-time national champion quickly won over fans with his humorous, no-nonsense takes on the state of college football. Well, fans were lucky enough to taste a slice of his humor when asked about his nomination at the Nick’s Kids Golf Tournament in Vestavia Hills on May 20. Joking about the nomination, he said, “must have not been a good year for people in the Emmys.” Amidst all this fun, he did not forget to credit his College GameDay mates for helping him cultivate a magnetic presence on television.

Well, walking and talking on the gridiron might be a cakewalk for Saban. But broadcasting has been a totally new arena. “A lot of people helped contribute to learning how to do it. I certainly appreciate them and thank them for that. We had a really good team of people who has lots of experience, I think, helped me fit in the program. It’s always an honor to be nominated for anything, but there’s always so many people that contribute to it.”

His College Gameday crew has definitely been a huge part of his appeal. Who could forget that hilarious moment when Pat McAfee was jamming out, dancing in his seat, while Nick Saban just sat there, straight-faced, just a few feet away? That instantly became a viral meme. And it wasn’t just that—from him rocking a fun Nittany Lions costume to those humorous commercial appearances, Saban really gave us some memorable moments. Even Lane Kiffin himself gushed, “I love Coach, but I never saw that side of him.” But hey, it’s not just the crew; the love of his life for 52 years has also played a huge role in Saban’s incredible journey. 

Nick Saban’s pillar of support 

Back in July last year, Saban was awarded the Icon Award at the 2024 ESPYS. The ESPY Icon Award is a special honor presented by ESPN, recognizing an individual who has made an extraordinary impact on sports and beyond. Well, the list of Saban’s achievements is pretty long. Seven championships, 11 Southeastern Conference titles, a prolific recruiter, having gone 16 consecutive seasons with a top-five recruiting class, producing 47 NFL first-round draft picks, and it goes on. 

The ESPY award was made extra special as it was handed by Saban’s first and last Heisman Trophy winners, Mark Ingram and Bryce Young. Saban has been lucky to have shared his wins and whoopsies with his partner-in-crime for 52 years. That’s none other than his wife, Terry Saban.

So as soon as the former Alabama head coach took to the stage to receive the honor, he could not stop talking about his ultimate pillar of support. “Miss Terry’s been the love of my life for 52 years. She has supported me in every way as my family has. And I certainly appreciate that because there’s a lot of sacrifices families make in coaching. We actually moved 17 times before we got to Alabama.” Not only did Terry’s love offer a strong shield, but Saban also carried his dad’s solid advice with him.

“The one thing my dad told me…the most important part of your character is to have compassion for other people. People aren’t gonna remember what you say, they’re gonna remember how you made them feel.” While Nick Saban grabbed the new award, he has some unfinished business in Tuscaloosa. He has joined hands with Donald Trump to ward off issues that the Crimson Tide and the rest of the CFB are facing. It includes NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and Title IX. Let’s hope Alabama’s ultimate troubleshooter comes off with flying colors.