The shocking news of Nick Saban’s retirement sent fans to his statue outside the Alabama football team’s home stadium, where stunned students and others laid bouquets of roses, bottles of soda, crimson and white shakers and boxes of the coach’s favorite breakfast snack -- Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.
The sun set on the Capstone, as fans braved the chilled air to pay their respects at the only place they knew to go: The bronzed effigy in the now-former head coach’s likeness placed outside Bryant-Denny after winning his first national championship in 2010.
A gamut of raw emotions on full display, the scene drew both disbelief and closure among the fans, most of them University of Alabama students, who expressed the complex feelings moments after hearing news that would change not just a football program, but a university and city. Even still, the coach’s legacy and what lies ahead for the Tide were top of mind at the Walk of Champions.
“I’m upset,” said University of Alabama student Preston Mcalhany. “I’m nervous about the future of the program. Uncertainty is a big factor in a lot of my feelings right now. I kind of don’t know where things are going. Here at Alabama, we have something called the standard, and whoever fills his shoes, I hope they can live up to it.”
“I am happy that we had this era of success. We lived through probably the greatest college football run in history,” UA student Luke Williamson said. “I mean, no other program comes close. I’m sad it’s over, but hopefully we’ll get a good head coach.”
“Honestly, I’m still in a bit of shock,” said UA student Nathaniel Linderman. “Definitely a sad day for the campus. I can’t believe he’s gone. We’ve had a lot of great college football coaches throughout the years, but I would argue it’s the most dominant, the most legendary run, most legendary dynasty in college football. I can’t say I didn’t see this coming at some point in the next few years, but I’m sad it had to be while I’m still a student especially and I’m sad it had to be at some point in general.”
Fans gather near the Nick Saban statue outside Bryant-Denny Stadium on the University of Alabama campus moments after news broke the head coach would retire on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
“One of Saban’s many legacies is the coaching tree he’s built,” Linderman said, pondering the future. “A lot of his underlings have gone on to become head coaches elsewhere. I’m hoping we can get one of those guys. [Lane] Kiffin comes to mind. [Steve] Sarkisian comes to mind. Kirby Smart comes to mind. I’m hoping we can get one of them.”
“Me and my friends were in class whenever we first heard the news,” UA graduate student Sawyer Smith said. “We’re all like, ‘There’s no way.’ I was on my way home and I said I’ll see if anybody’s going to be here. It’s just surprising, really. Considering how the last game ended, there were always concerns and doubts, but now that it’s actually here, it’s like wow, who’s next? It’s like Saban always said, trust the process. Whoever’s next, we’ll see what they do.”
“Shocked,” UA student Alex Hinajosa said. “I don’t know what to say, really. I hope we get a good coach. I hope we continue the dynasty. Wouldn’t mind Kiffin. Wouldn’t mind [Dan] Lanning. I don’t know. I’m still shocked, honestly.”
“It kind of feels like he died,” one student said to her friend as she circled the statue. “Just because of the flowers. I’ve been an Alabama fan since the day I was born. It’s said but, it’ll be OK.”
David Martinez, a UA student brimming with sincerity and decked out in a crimson pullover and beanie, laid a bouquet of red roses at the foot of the statue. “Saban was always...he was everything,” Martinez said. “Players, they leave. Coaches and coordinators, they leave. But Saban was always a constant. I’m from Georgia. I got s--t talked by Georgia fans a lot, and I always had the Saban argument. We always had him. Growing up a Tide fan, he meant a lot to me. Quite honestly, I’m just more happy that he gets to go enjoy himself in retirement, go be with Miss Terry. That’s what I’m happy about. I just hope we get a coach who can appreciate what was before him, quite honestly.”
University of Alabama student Anastasia Taggart brought a Nick Saban prayer candle to his statue outside Bryant-Denny Stadium moments after news broke the Crimson Tide football coach would retire Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
“Saban was a huge fan of Oatmeal Cream Pies,” one student, who put a box underneath the statue, said. “Just a pay of respects to him. Hopefully we can bring in someone like Lane Kiffin or Sarkisian, but I think right now we just need to focus on the team we’ve got and obviously pay our respects. He did us a great favor and and got us six rings.”
Alabama student Anastasia Taggart brought a lit prayer candle, with Saban’s image plastered on its side. When asked if she had just made it for the occasion, she revealed her mother gave it to her as a present this past Christmas -- not for this specific occasion, whenever it may occur, but just to have. “Class should be canceled for the rest of the week,” Taggart said. “I can’t. I’m a STEM major. This is too much.”
“I feel like I’m grieving, you know? It’s like, grief,” her friend Grace Offidani said. “I’m in denial,” Bella Tubolino, their other friend, said.
Fan Kim Lindsey also brought a box of Little Debbies, plus another bouquet of roses. “I’m about to go up there to the GOAT and pay my respects for him and what he’s done for this university,” said Lindsey, dressed head to toe in Tide gear. “He’s one of the greatest coaches that’s been here at Alabama. And for 17 years, I’ve gotten to watch him in that stadium, and I just want to go and say thank you. He’s given a lot to the university.”
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2024-01-11 02:39:00Z
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