Nick Saban Watching Alabama’s Spring Game From a Suite Had Crimson Tide Fans Feeling Emotional

Nick Saban found himself in an unusual position during Alabama's annual spring game on Saturday—watching from a suite inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, as he's no longer the head coach of the Crimson Tide after retiring in January.
Saban spent 17 seasons as Alabama's head coach and led them to seven national championships. He decided to call it quits shortly after the Crimson Tide's loss to Michigan in the College Football Playoff.
Kalen DeBoer, who spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Washington Huskies, was hired to replace Saban and has some big shoes to fill.
This video of Saban watching Saturday's game, instead of coaching it, had Alabama fans feeling emotional:
From a box on the east side of Bryant-Denny Stadium, Nick Saban watches the Alabama football team take the field for the first time after retiring as head coach. pic.twitter.com/Cja4lgEeXP
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) April 13, 2024
For the love of all things SEC not me feeling a little lump in my throat https://t.co/5FCM6AtxqK
— Rebel With A Cause (or Two) (@patti12471) April 13, 2024
Well this broke me. https://t.co/7trBSanURW
— anna (@aurban22) April 13, 2024
Mindblowing https://t.co/mDAliKpvd8
— Beth (@ejsbe) April 13, 2024
sigh... the pain is still there. https://t.co/zwG886bW7V
— j'marc (@yojmarc) April 13, 2024
Unwell https://t.co/R8xTTHUMFv
— 𝒥𝑒𝓃𝓃𝒶 💗 (@jennabainee) April 13, 2024
Not ready
— Matt Jones (@tgrmontanaskier) April 13, 2024
Surreal.
— ROLLTIDEMOM17🐘🏈🇺🇸❤️ (@CrimsonMama15) April 13, 2024

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.
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