On Wednesday, legendary Alabama football coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, leaving the program after 17 seasons. Saban joined the Crimson Tide in 2007, leading them to three BCS Championships and the College Football Playoff National Championship six times. Alabama won double-digit games yearly under Saban except once, including going undefeated in 2009 and 2020. Despite playing in the hyper-competitive SEC, Saban and the Crimson Tide remained on top, displaying unprecedented discipline. Once heralded as a defensive juggernaut, Alabama became more pass-happy later in his tenure, including posting monster numbers with quarterbacks Bryce Young, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Jalen Hurts, and A.J. McCarron.
BREAKING: Nick Saban is retiring, per @ClowESPN pic.twitter.com/loFp2CRfeR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 10, 2024
The Nick Saban era ends after 17 seasons, a tenure defined by winning. Below are the five greatest games during his time in Tuscaloosa, as seen by a kid from Phoenix, Arizona, growing up at the height of the Saban-led Crimson Tide.
Alabama Football Goes Undefeated for First Time Since 2009, Wins BCS Title over Texas Longhorns
It took Nick Saban only three seasons in Tuscaloosa to hoist his first championship trophy. On the heels of a 12-2 season and loss in the Sugar Bowl to the Utah Utes and Kyle Whittingham, the Crimson Tide replaced their backfield of quarterback John Parker-Wilson and Glen Coffee with Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram. Alabama beat Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship, setting up a date in the BCS Championship with fellow unbeaten Texas.
The Crimson Tide knocked out Longhorns star quarterback Colt McCoy early en route to a 37-21 win. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram tallied 116 yards rushing, while backup Trent Richardson also accumulated 109 yards on the ground. Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus had a pick-six, too, in what would be the first of six titles for Saban with the Crimson Tide.
Nick Saban Replaced Jalen Hurts with True Freshman Tua Tagovailoa at Halftime of the 2017-18 College Football Playoff National Championship
The one-loss Crimson Tide snuck into the College Football Playoff despite an upset defeat at the hands of the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship. After making quick work of the Clemson Tigers in the first round, they trailed 14-0 at the half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the championship. Saban made a shocking halftime adjustment, replacing star quarterback Jalen Hurts with Tua Tagovailoa. The move will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time, with Tagovailoa igniting the Crimson Tide offense, throwing three touchdowns, including a 41-yard strike to future Heisman Trophy Award winner DeVonta Smith in overtime.
Crimson Tide Get Revenge, Smash Rival LSU in 2011-12 BCS Championship
Nick Saban’s second of six titles won with Alabama football might be his best. Alabama lost just one game in the regular season, a tough 9-6 defeat at home to arch-rival LSU. As destiny would have it, the Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers again faced off in the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana. With the Tigers sporting an undefeated record, the Crimson Tide blanked them 21-0. Kicker Jeremy Shelley made five field goals while running back Trent Richardson had the lone touchdown.
Saban’s defense ran wild, holding Tigers quarterback Jordan Jefferson to a laughable 53 yards. Outside of Odell Beckham Jr., not a single LSU player eclipsed 20 yards rushing or receiving.
Alabama Keeps National Title Hopes Alive; Completes Fourth-and-Forever in 2023 Iron Bowl
Alabama lost a heartbreaker in this season’s College Football Playoff, falling to the eventual champion Michigan Wolverines 27-20 in overtime. However, they only got there because they won 11 straight games, including the SEC Championship over the then-undefeated George Bulldogs, to get there. Within the 11-game winning streak sits arguably the most significant victory in Iron Bowl history, a 27-24 shocker over the Auburn Tigers on the road.
Down four and with less than 40 seconds remaining, the Crimson Tide faced a ludicrous fourth-and-goal from Auburn’s 31-yard line. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, who faced scrutiny all season, fired a dart to wide receiver Isaiah Bond in the back left of the endzone, converting on what was likely the last offensive play for the Crimson Tide in the regular season. The season’s result might not be what the Alabama faithful wanted, but the road to get there remains memorable.
Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide Turn to Former Star-Turned Backup Jalen Hurts in the 2018 SEC Championship
Heisman Trophy finalist Tua Tagovailoa lit it up for the Crimson Tide in 2018. Still, after an injury in the SEC Championship, Nick Saban turned back to Jalen Hurts, the quarterback before Tagovailoa. Hurts went 7-of-9 for 82 yards and a touchdown while rushing five times for 28 yards and another score. Alabama won 35-28 and Hurts eventually transferred to Oklahoma to play under Lincoln Riley. Still, for someone who lost his job a year prior, it shows the resiliency that Coach Saban instilled in his players.
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