Nick Saban has been a fantastic addition to ESPN’s College GameDay; he’s been great all season.
But he was especially in rare form on Saturday in Atlanta.
During a conversation about flag planting, he got the ball rolling with one hell of an analogy. You could tell that Saban had this one ready to go, as he lamented the fines levied on Michigan and Ohio State and an undisclosed fine against ACC schools, with Florida State, North Carolina, and NC State all in the mix.
“Well, first of all, I think we need guidelines,” Saban said. “But, I think to fine these schools $100,000 is like worrying about mouse manure when you’re up to ears in elephant shit.”
He knew what he was doing with that one.
“We got to have guidelines. And I would be more upset with my team trying to plant the flag because I think that’s disrespectful and doesn’t show much sportsmanship,” he continued. “You know, you want to defeat the other team, but this disrespect that everybody wants to show is probably not a good part of the game.
“And I think you have to protect the brand. If college football players want to be paid — which they’re getting paid now — then they have to do something to protect the brand. The NFL protects [its] brand. So, when you do something like this that’s bad for the game, you gotta learn how to protect the brand; show sportsmanship so people can identify to the game in a positive way.”
“To fine these schools $100,000 is like worrying about mouse manure when you’re up to ears in elephant shit.” – Nick Saban. pic.twitter.com/qGqUqh1MVs
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
And the former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach continued to hammer that point home.
“I would be much more upset with my team planting a flag because I think coaches can control that,” he said. “I mean, if you tell your team, ‘We’re not doing this,’ they’re not gonna do it. It’s no different than faking injuries. Coaches can stop that; they can stop this.”
“I would be much more upset with my team planting a flag because I think coaches can control that.” pic.twitter.com/H0aZxJxd7X
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
Saban was on fire, calling out the nonsense as he addressed his two former coaches in Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian, who gave very bland answers to a question about a regular-season rematch between Georgia and Texas in the SEC Championship Game.
“Yeah, well, I think they’re both bullshittin’ us,” said Saban.
Nick Saban is having himself a day in Atlanta! pic.twitter.com/EpcW7zGvIU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
As Pat McAfee slapped his knee, Desmond Howard’s laugh could be heard from Athens.
That’s the effect Saban has.
His candidness isn’t just refreshing — it’s a masterclass in cutting through the noise, and it’s safe to say College GameDay wouldn’t be the same without Saban.
[College GameDay]
