Alabama head coach Nick Saban says he won’t have a rooting interest for either team in the upcoming Super Bowl. It’s not that he doesn’t care about the game, it’s more about his close connections to participants on both sides of the aisle.

Atlanta Falcons star receiver Julio Jones played for Saban in Tuscaloosa (as well as Courtney Upshaw), but the New England Patriots also have Alabama alumni Cyrus Jones and Dont’a Hightower. Saban also has a close friendship after working in the NFL with arguably his only peer in football coaching in Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

While in Mobile, Ala., for the 2017 Senior Bowl, Saban was asked about his reaction to Jones’ huge performance in the NFC title game Sunday against Green Bay.

“Probably one of my favorite guys that I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach and how he impacted the game as well as his teammates,” Saban said per Bama Online. “I’m so happy for him that he had a fantastic game. I’m happy for the Falcons that they have an opportunity to be in the Super Bowl and I’m hoping Julio does a great job, but we’ve also got some players on New England’s team and a coach that’s a good friend.

“So it’s kind of hard for me to pick sides. But I just love to see our players do extremely well. Julio’s had a great year and obviously had a great game, and hopefully, he’ll have a lot of good luck in the Super Bowl, as well.”

Regardless of which team wins the game, Saban will yet again be able to pitch to recruits that he coached one of the reigning Super Bowl champions.