“When I was at Michigan State, the media made me Attila the Hun.” That’s how legendary coach Nick Saban put it, looking back at his days at East Lansing. Sensing the situation back then, he changed gears. From an angry, irritable coach to establishing rapport with all the stakeholders, he made his journey. But wait, there’s more to it. If you think Nick Saban called all the shots, think again.

Behind every legendary coach is someone who keeps the real playbook—and in Saban’s case, that’s Miss Terry. “Look at yourself; You’re curt with people.” She coached the Coach with her rebuttal on the Michigan State backdrop. She called the shots, whether at East Lansing or scouting Baton Rouge for Saban. Or his retirement, which rallied the cries at Tuscaloosa. Her influence ran deep. Miss Terry wasn’t just along for the ride—She was riding shotgun with a map. And now, in a moment that’s got Bama fans nodding knowingly, Saban’s daughter, Kristen, just confirmed what the Tide faithful have long whispered.

Grooving to the beats of Jordan Harvey’s Alabama Girl, “yelling ‘Roll Tide!” with her Crimson lips and her Levi’s. And I can’t believe that she’s all mine. Now my whole world is a Rammer Jammer Alabama girl,” the mother-daughter duo cheered for the Crimson Tide. But that wasn’t the highlight. It was rather the text that accompanied the throwback video. “She might run her mouth sometimes, but at least you don’t have to explain football to her.” In a way, Kristen is saying that Miss Terry knows ball, and that’s hardly a surprise for anyone who followed the GOAT. Miss Terry’s been there for Nick Saban through thick and thin. He even described their relationship as a good partnership.

“First of all, really good partnership,” Saban said on The Pivot podcast. “So, I’ve never had a job where she wasn’t really involved. In recruiting, in community service, in the university. And that’s one thing she never really enjoyed about pro ball that much.” After wrapping up his stint at LSU, he went to the NFL, coaching the Miami Dolphins for two years, but eventually returned to collegiate football. He further continued by saying, “Because there was less opportunity for her to do that (at the NFL). Does that make sense? Because guys are grown men, they’ve got their own families and all that, whereas you’re trying to develop guys in college.” 

After mentoring Bama Nation for nearly two decades, the G.O.A.T. stepped down and retired in 2024. And obviously, he had his reasons. The CFB circuit was rapidly changing. Roster inconsistencies went rampant with NIL and the transfer portal amid the allegations of “pay-for-play.” Saban LOVED his sport, and maybe the rapidly changing CFB landscape—for better or worse—was not what aligned with his vision, with values he held close, including program loyalty, among others.

And Miss Terry’s aligned with those values as well. During Saban’s coaching years at Alabama, he had a recruiting tradition. Saturdays were reserved for Karaoke nights with the recruits’ parents. Followed by a Sunday breakfast with the recruits themselves. But something was amiss. The one and only thing that made Saban help build rapport with the stakeholders. “It’s always about relationships, but now it’s about how much money you’re going to pay them,” as Miss Terry questioned Saban’s tradition after NIL changed the CFB landscape.

But wait. Hang on. Saban retired in 2024. But a new wave of speculations has convinced the fans of a Saban comeback.

Will Nick Saban return?

After wrapping up his tenure at Tuscaloosa, Saban became an analyst for ESPN. I mean—obviously, Football is his life. He spent half of his life shaping the players on the turf. Take him off the football turf, sure—but the game’s still running through his veins. In the meantime, rumors have been swirling around in CFB circles that Saban might return.

It all started with former Alabama alum Greg McElroy hinting at the legend’s return. Although it was shot down by Paul Finebaum, calling it bogus. However, another event triggered the conversation—one that came from the Saban family itself. Kristen had posted a throwback story of Nick Saban’s days at Alabama, with a cryptic caption, “Damn, I miss this.” But she caught the air, much to the gridiron’s discontent.

However, Urban Meyer is optimistic. And here comes the catch. He believes that Saban might return. But not to CFB. “I would say there’s very little to no chance he would get involved in college. But I think he would take phone calls from the NFL.” Well, whatever the case. There’s one thing clear. It would be no surprise that Saban chooses to come back for the love of his sport. Let us know what you think in the comments.