Sports
Nick Saban has remained a central figure in the college football landscape and while fans and insiders continue to speculate about a potential return to coaching, Paul Finebaum has made it clear: he is not coming back.
Since stepping down from Alabama in January 2024, questions surrounding a prospective return have swirled as fans wonder if the legendary coach might once again patrol the sidelines.
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But according to ESPN’s Finebaum, they should forget about it. His response regarding the 73-year-old’s bombshell comeback was both immediate and unwavering, leaving no uncertainty.
“No,” Finebaum said to McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning when asked if Saban was considering a return as the a longtime voice on SEC matters and a close observer of Saban’s career, elaborated on why he believes the seven-time national champion is content in retirement.
“I ran into somebody the other day,” Finebaum added. “Who spends time with Saban in Florida.
“He said Saban is literally having the time of his life. And why wouldn’t he?”
Since retiring, Saban has transitioned into television, joining ESPN’s College GameDay as an analyst, and the change of pace from the daily grind of college football coaching to studio commentary appears to suit him well.
Finebaum described Saban as a man embracing a new chapter, free from the pressure that defined his decades-long coaching tenure, as he enjoys retirement from calling plays and teaching the next generation.
“I’m much closer to Nick Saban’s age than (Greg McElroy is),” Finebaum continued. “And I can assure you, when you have everything you want and you start playing golf at the best golf clubs in America…
“And you start making friends who belong to even better golf clubs and you make a lot of money for doing very little work on TV, the interest in doing what he walked away from is not very high.”
Is Nick Saban returning to college football? What do we know?
Despite Finebaum’s assertions, others in the college football community are not ready to close the door on Saban’s coaching career as Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback and current colleague of Saban at ESPN, relayed a conflicting perspective during the same program.
“A very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around, and just really, really admire,” McElroy said. “They seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching.
“If it wasn’t someone notable, I would never say a word. He is of firm belief that Nick Saban will coach in college football again.”
This statement, though unconfirmed, raises eyebrows – especially given the shifting dynamics of college football, including the evolving NIL landscape and transfer portal policies.
These changes might present new challenges, but also new incentives for a coach as competitive and strategic as Saban. Still, Finebaum remained unmoved when it comes to the veteran.
He believes that even if the senior citizen were interested, there may not be a coaching environment superior to the one he departed at the Alabama Crimson Tide, and thus the incentive is still not there.
While schools would undoubtedly show interest if Saban decided to return, the 73-year-old seems to be enjoying a well-earned break from the grind. Alabama has already turned the page.
They now have Kalen DeBoer taking over in Tuscaloosa, and Nick himself has embraced the media role with characteristic intensity and preparation in what seems to be his new direction.
This news was originally published on this post .
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