Arkansas C Frank Ragnow played Saturday’s game with a heavy heart. Ragnow’s father died last week of a heart attack, but the Razorbacks junior suited up for tonight’s 49-30 home loss to the Crimson Tide.

Alabama coach Nick Saban knows how Ragnow feels. Saban’s father died when he was in grad school.

Saban said in his postgame press conference that he offered his condolences to the grieving Arkansas player:

“I lost my father when I was in my first year of graduate school,” Saban said. “He’s a fine young man and a phenomenal player. For him to have to go through that, our thoughts and prayers are with his family. I wanted to tell him that, and try to encourage him to some kind of way embrace the good memories and the good times that he had with his father because that’ll be something that he can keep with him forever.”

No doubt Ragnow’s father would have loved seeing his son’s team put up a fight against the No. 1 team in the country.

He has plenty of reasons to be proud of his son, both on and off the field.