This weekend, Alabama will not just host the SEC showdown against Vanderbilt. But they will also honor the most legendary figure of the program. And that’s none other than Nick Saban, whose induction into the Hall of Fame will be announced at Bryant-Denny. More than the 6 championships, Saban transformed the Crimson Tide into a dynasty. From training Heisman winners like DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young, to producing 52 first-round NFL Draft picks, Saban has a deep-rooted legacy at Bama. The old coach now wants his fans to show up and display the famous Bama spirit the program was known for during the glory days.

To add more spice to the narrative, this game is not a normal showdown for Kalen DeBoer’s team but a revenge game after last season’s fallout. Imagine losing against a team after 40 years. Hurts bad, right? You can tell how intense this game is from Ryan Williams’ bold comment back in June. “Going into this game, we don’t call them revenge games … We’re going to kill an ant with a sledgehammer this year,” Williams said to Jon Gruden. “Every game we fell short last year, we definitely got red eyes going into them (this year).”

Alabama is coming from a statement win against Georgia. Add on to that the honoring of Nick Saban, it becomes clear that for the Crimson Tide losing is simply not an option. And to make sure this happens, Saban also turns up the heat by urging fans to show up and make an impact this Saturday. “It’s my experience on GameDay that it’s a great opportunity for each institution to show the spirit, the energy, and the enthusiasm that they have for their program and the football team. And this is a great opportunity, because I always thought that we had the best energy and enthusiasm and spirit of any place in the country in the years that I was the coach here. And this is a great opportunity for everybody to come out and show the world what a great spirit we have at the University of Alabama.”

It’s pretty evident that even Saban doesn’t want Bama to repeat their performance against Vanderbilt. Last year, the Commodores converted several important third downs and even rushed for 167 yards, of which 120 were from Diego Pavia. With that win Vanderbilt broke Bama’s 23-year game-winning streak, and it was their first victory against a top 5 program in 61 tries.

But it looks like Nick Saban will face at least one opposing vote during GameDay. This is due to the guest picker being Theo Von, who’s a comedian and a podcaster. Now, the problem here is Von is a die-hard Vandy supporter, and on top of that, he’s Diego Pavia’s friend. Even Clark Lea acknowledged his presence at the September 10th practice. “I appreciate his interests in our program, the friendships he’s built. … Here’s a guy who knows how to find fun in everything he does,” Lea said. “Talk about someone who doesn’t squeeze it too tight. He really has a great perspective and wisdom that he brings and also just that sense of humor and that lightness.”

Fan reactions to Saban’s GameDay move

It’s a home game for Bama fans, and Nick Saban’s presence just adds even more excitement to it. They are all excited to see their favorite coach getting honored even if they aren’t satisfied with the team’s current performance. But there were some who pointed out the favoritism. “As long as Saban is part of Gameday, they will go to Tuscaloosa every year, even when undeserving. Appeasement.” This may be a conspiratorial take as the SEC showdown has plenty of drama to justify GameDay’s presence.

Some fans are also unhappy because of the guest picker. As one fan’s response captured the sentiment: “We were coming till you picked Theo Von!” Fans are aware of Von’s bias and are making their voices heard. They continue trolling GameDay for this one-sided selection even when the game will be played on Alabama’s field. “Why is Theo Von the guest picker? Why doesn’t GameDay ever pick anyone with a connection to Bama when GD is in Tuscaloosa?” Another Bama fan commented.

Despite the drama over the picker, fans are also showing their determination to support the team. As this fan said, “See ya in T Town Saturday. Vandy is about to get thrashed. RTR.” Another joined in the chorus, saying, “See you in T-town!! RTR.” The showdown is sure to be epic. And neither Saban, nor Theo Von can control the outcome.