Kristen Saban is a fierce defender of her father, and this week proved no different. A longtime Alabama supporter, she’s known for passionately backing the team at Bryant-Denny Stadium and silencing critics online. Remember when she clapped back at naysayers after their Tennessee loss with a post saying, “Me looking at all of the Bama bandwagon fans crash out after 2 losses.” This time, however, the focus shifted beyond the field when some fans took issue with Nick Saban’s commencement speech. Kristen didn’t hesitate, stepping in to shut down the negativity.

Even though Nick Saban has moved on from Alabama, his 17-year legacy is undeniable. A legendary coach isn’t used to playing second fiddle, but that’s what happened when he addressed the Coleman Coliseum graduates before President Donald Trump. “It’s a special moment for me, but I gotta be honest with you: I feel like I’m the warm-up band for The Rolling Stones,” Saban quipped before congratulating the students. He then shared his direct wisdom: “I always tell people that you need to be very wise about the goals that you set. But more importantly, you have to define ‘What do I need to do to accomplish those goals?’ That’s called ‘The Process.'”

However, not everyone appreciates wisdom, as one person demonstrated by commenting on Kristen Saban’s story featuring her father’s speech. As usual, Kristen was proudly promoting her dad, only to be questioned. The person replied to her IG story asking, “And you are proud of this, why?” Her straightforward response was, “Because he is my father. And he got to address the university commencement, and he also put 17 years into the university, the city of Tuscaloosa, AND the state of Alabama, and he speaks words of wisdom to young people, and people listen because he has given so much to the school. In case you forgot!”

It’s hard to imagine anyone forgetting Nick Saban’s profound impact on Alabama football. He didn’t just coach; he redefined dominance. From 2007 to 2023, Saban transformed the Tide into college football’s gold standard, leading them to nine BCS/CFP title games and securing six national championships. His remarkable 201-29 record (an 87.4% win rate) included an astounding fifteen consecutive seasons ranked #1 in the AP poll.

He also delivered nine SEC titles, seventeen bowl appearances, and thirteen postseason victories. While Bear Bryant’s win total at Alabama is higher, Saban’s era was undeniably more intense and ultimately more successful. This is precisely why Kristen is proud of her father. And she didn’t hesitate to issue a clear warning to the trolls: “Don’t come for me today regarding my father speaking at the ALABAMA graduation. I have time today, and I will not hesitate to put you in your place.”

Really, what else would you expect from her? Nick Saban wasn’t exactly saying anything controversial. He was simply trying to motivate the graduates and instill some self-discipline, reminding them, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s also important to be nice.” But motivation wasn’t the only significant thing Nick Saban addressed during his commencement speech. There were some funny moments too…

Back in 2018, fresh off their 2017 National Championship win, Saban and the Crimson Tide visited the White House, making Trump the first president to host them in the Oval Office. Saban, bringing three captains, unknowingly set the stage for a memorable moment he later shared. He recounted how, in the Oval Office, one captain eyed a “very big, good looking, auspicious box” with a red button. Inquiring, “Is that what you launch the missiles with?” Trump playfully urged, “Well, push it and find out.” After some goading, “Rashaan Evans finally got the guts up, went over, pushed the red button. Some lady came in with a coke on a tray.” That day, Coleman Coliseum was a wild mix of laughs, inspiration, and some serious chats too!

Nick Saban’s push for NIL reform in Bama

Interestingly, former Alabama coach Nick Saban also met with President Trump to discuss the NCAA’s problematic NIL system. Saban, who retired in January 2024, has been vocal about his concerns regarding NIL’s impact on college football. While not against the concept of NIL itself, he believes the current implementation is unfair, giving undue influence to financial offers in player decisions.

Nick Saban advocates for NIL reform, not its elimination, pointing to the massive sums of money now being offered to athletes. The millions being offered to some players have significantly altered recruiting and transfers, shifting the focus towards financial incentives and fundamentally changing the landscape of college football. As Saban explained to Trump, the dramatic increase in athlete payments since 2021 has created an arms race among top schools, undermining fair competition.

Saban is not alone in his worries about the current Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) system in college athletics. The sheer volume of transfers—nearly 4,300 Division I football players in 2024 alone—illustrates the system’s impact. Players are actively seeking better financial opportunities, fueled by the massive $1.67 billion in NIL payments during the 2024-2025 period, according to Opendorse.

Responding to Saban’s concerns, President Trump suggested a potential executive order to address the situation. The White House is reportedly exploring options for increased federal oversight of NIL. Trump apparently supports reforming NIL and has directed his staff to draft a possible executive order and “begin studying what an order could say.”

NCAA spokesperson Tim Buckley acknowledged the existing concerns about threats to college sports, although the association has not directly commented on a potential executive order. He stated that “there are some threats to college sports that federal legislation can effectively address,” and that the NCAA is working with student-athletes and schools to find a bipartisan solution. These discussions involving Coach Saban, President Trump, and the NCAA hint at a possible shift in the regulation of NIL.