Why hasn’t Nick Saban taken a pay cut at Alabama like so many of his coaching peers following the coronavirus pandemic? Because he’s worth far more than what Alabama is currently paying him according to Paul Finebaum.

The way the SEC Network host tells it, if anything, Alabama owes Saban far more than what they are paying him to lead the football program in Tuscaloosa.

During his most recent Monday morning appearance on Birmingham-based WJOX 94.5 FM radio show “The Roundtable,” Finebaum offered up his thoughts on why Saban has not been asked to take a pay cut in Tuscaloosa after ESPN ran a story examining the coaches that have and have not taken pay cuts this year.

“In the case of Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, I really have to question the questions about them taking pay cuts,” Finebaum said on the show. “These are two guys that bring in more money to their universities, are worth more than probably any coach imaginable.  And top of that, none of us really know how much money, let’s say Nick Saban, has helped to raise for that university by calling people, by meeting with people, by having dinner with people. And on top of his own foundation.

“So I know I’m in somewhat of an awkward spot here commenting on an article written by the company I work for, and I interviewed Paulo Levine the other day about it, and I struggled with it because if Nick Saban was the head of a Fortune 500 company, and had done what he has, and did there what he has done at Alabama, he would be paid $100 million a year. He’s worth that much money. So I think I think we’re splitting hairs to talk about you know why he did not take a 15% pay cut.”

Finebaum doubled down on his comment, noting that Saban may be the most valuable individual figure in the history of Alabama athletics — especially considering the financial gains the school has made since his arrival.

“I just think to characterize someone like Nick Saban, who has meant more to this university than really any person at least since Coach Bryant, and in many ways, more than that,” Finebaum continued. “To quibble over whatever the amount of money is, and yeah I mean 15% or $8-9 million is a lot of money, but it’s not going to change anything right now. The fact that he is there is the most important thing.”

As long as Saban remains in Tuscaloosa, the Alabama football program will remain a money-making machine and the school would be wise to keep the coach as happy as possible for as long as possible. After all, in the end, it will all be worth it.