Nick Saban has drawn headlines this season for his criticism about Alabama fans following the Louisiana game, especially that there weren’t more students at the game.

The Alabama coach said he believes it should be a first-come, first-serve basis because he figured there are plenty of people who would like to come if the students don’t show up.

On his radio show Thursday night, following the Missouri game, Saban changed his tune a bit about the atmosphere in and around Bryant-Denny Stadium. Of course, the main draw outside of the game itself was the return of “Dixieland Delight,” which many fans stuck around for to sing in its return.

“The players may not show it, but they appreciate the Walk of Champions, all the people that come there and greet them when we come to the game,” Saban said. “They really appreciate the students coming out to the last game and being very enthusiastic.”

The coach appreciated the fans, too. And not surprisingly, it all comes back to recruiting.

“I thought the stadium, which I was disappointed in early in the season, but I thought the stadium for this Missouri game was like it should be, and like we want it to be and like it used to be in terms of the enthusiasm the crowd, the music, the songs,” he said. “The way they supported the players, and I think that’s what makes Alabama special. And if you don’t do that, then we’re not special because they do it other places, and that’s what players see when they come here, when we recruit them. So I think it’s really, really important to the players and even if there’s no way to really show our fans that, I can tell you how much they appreciate it.”