The lack of ‘class’ among Alabama Crimson Tide players contributed to Nick Saban’s retirement after 17 legendary seasons.
Legendary former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban listed several reasons for his resignation following the 2023 season, including how his players handled the Rose Bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban were only a few yards away from the end zone in overtime, when starting quarterback Jalen Milroe was sacked at the line of scrimmage. Michigan won the College Football Playoff semifinal game, 27-20.
While Nick Saban said that the way his players acted after the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan wasn’t the sole reason he decided to retire, he did say it was a contributing factor in an article from ESPN.
“I want to be clear that wasn’t the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,” Saban stated about his retirement decision. “I was very disappointed in how the players acted after the game.” You must win with class. You must lose with class. “We had opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t. Showing your ass, being frustrated, throwing helmets, and doing that stuff is not who we are or what we’ve promoted in our program.”
That discipline was the reason that the Alabama Crimson Tide were able to compete for national championships every single year.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kevin Steele reiterated this sentiment, especially focusing on penalties in an article from Sports Illustrated.
“Penalties, those type things, when you have something to correct, then you place an emphasis on them. We have officials at practice. We chart the officials,” said Kevin Steele during his only fall camp press conference. “There are repercussions for your actions, and it stays in front of you. In most cases in life, if you keep something that you need to correct in front of you continuously, most people learn.”
When Saban returned to Alabama and addressed the players, it became more clear to him that the message he was sending his team wasn’t resonating as it had in the past. Along with the fact that he found it harder to assure players he’d be there for several more years, Saban decided to retire.
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