Nick Saban is always the most intriguing coach to take the podium during the annual SEC Media Days event, and this year was no different. While most anticipated that Nick Saban would be asked about the Alabama quarterback situation (he was), many other topics came up as well including how long he plans to coach.

Here are the best quotes from Nick Saban at today’s SEC Media Days appearance:

On Alabama players getting drafted…

But to have 12 players drafted this year, 77 players drafted in the last ten years, 26 first round draft picks I think is something that we’re very proud of in terms of the quality of player that we’re able to attract in recruiting, the value that we create for them there in terms of their development, and the success that they have when they leave.

On coaching turnover at Alabama…

I think you all know that we’ve had a tremendous amount of staff change this year. We’ve had a lot of great coaches who have gone on and done a very good job with the opportunities that they’ve created by helping us have success at Alabama. I’m very proud of what they’re all doing in the programs that they have.

And with six new coaches this year, a new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new special teams coordinator, I am really pleased with the transition, how the players have sort of responded from relationship standpoint with all of those coaches, how those coaches have done a very good job of buying into the things that we want to do and how we want to do them. The new energy and enthusiasm and ideas that they brought to the organization I think are going to be a long-term positive.

I think this is also one of the better recruiting staffs that we’ve had, and I think that’s going to be beneficial for us in the future as well.

On the quarterback situation at Alabama…

And I think the number one thing that you will want to talk about is the quarterback controversy that you’d love to create, that you’ve already created, that you will continue to create, and I will tell you the same thing exists there. It’s still to be determined as to who is going to play quarterback for Alabama. So you can ask all of the questions about it, but it’s still to be determined.

Tua basically missed spring practice due to an injury. Jalen had a good spring. Both guys had great summers, and we’ll just have to see who wins the team in fall camp. So, we’ll see.

So, some of your questions, when you ask me about that, I’m going to say: We’ll see. So don’t get mad at me.

On Damien Harris…

Damien Harris, who we’re excited about having back, who returns after two back-to-back thousand-yard seasons and probably could have gone out for the draft, but I think sort of sent a message that: I’m a guy that wants to graduate. I like college. The NFL is not going to go anyplace, and I’m going to try to have another great year and see what happens.

So, you know, basically we’re excited to have those players back. Their leadership has been instrumental in our success, and we’re very pleased with the new coaches that we have. But there’s a lot of things to be determined between now and the first game and now into the season progressing as to where this team can go.

On how long Nick Saban plans to coach…

Well, let me say this: Mrs. Terry does not want me at home. I can tell you that. She doesn’t care if I’m 60, 70, or 80. So she’s looking for something for me to do.

Now, I really enjoy what I’m doing right now, and as long as I’m healthy and I can do it, I’m going to continue to do it and not worry about any numbers or what my age is or anything like that. But I would not want to be in the position where I ever rode the program down because I wasn’t capable of making a contribution that would be positive to the success of the program.

So I’m going to continue to do this for as long as I feel like I can make a positive contribution and as long as I feel healthy enough to do it. And, you know, our Noontime basketball team was undefeated again this year, so that’s always an indicator to me that I can make it through another season.

On if Jalen Hurts might transfer prior to the beginning of the season…

Well, I have no idea. I expect him to be there. I think it’s our job to give both players a very fair opportunity to have a chance to win the team at their position. I think that one of the two guys — obviously, both are capable. We’ll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team, and they’ll all have to make a decision based on what that outcome is as to what their future is, you know, at Alabama.

We certainly would love for every player on our team to stay at the University of Alabama and graduate. Jalen has a great opportunity to do that in December. So, we are hopeful that he will stay there and be a graduate regardless of what his circumstance is as a player.

But that’s not to minimize his chances of being a starter and making a great contribution to our team in some way, even if he isn’t a starter.

On how much past play factors into the quarterback competition…

I think it all will be determined. Everything you just asked me will be determined by what the players do, the rest of the summer, how they win the team, what they do in fall camp. And I’m not making any predetermined decisions about that. So, they need to continue to compete, like every other person at every other position on our team is competing.

And I love both guys. They’re both really good competitors. They are really good people. They are good leaders. They both make great contribution to our team. They are very well liked.

So somebody’s got to win the team, and however these guys can help the team, I hope they are both committed to staying and doing that.

On UCF calling themselves national champions and the possibility of expanding the playoff…

Well, first of all, we’re excited about playing the game in Orlando. Neutral-site games really launched our program in Alabama when we first came there years ago. But I think philosophically we’re sort of changing our thoughts on that and our future scheduling and trying to get more home and homes, which leads me to talk about what we need to do scheduling-wise. I know nobody really asked this, but I’ve always been an advocate of playing all Power Five schools. I think we need to get — have more really, really good games on TV for the players. We can’t have fans who pay a lot of money for tickets and boxes and loges who support our programs to pay for games that no one is interested in watching.

So that’s — now, I’ve heard Greg talk about the fact that we don’t want to play nine SEC games, but I’ve always been an advocate of playing nine or ten SEC games and a couple other games against some other good opponents that everybody would be happy to watch.

I think it would help us determine, to your next question, who should be in the playoffs. And you might not have to go undefeated to get into the playoffs, because there would be more games against high-quality opponents, which would help determine who the best teams are.

And, look, I have tremendous amount of compassion for UCF and what they accomplished this year and going undefeated. We’ve only had one team that’s gone undefeated and won the National Championship, and that was in 2009, and that is very, very, very difficult to do, for anyone. And I have a tremendous amount of respect for the players.

I’m not responsible for the system that determines who gets in the playoffs. But I think they did a good job of determining who got in the playoffs, and we can have another discussion about the future of the playoffs and how many teams should get in the playoffs, but you’re going to minimize the effect of bowl games, which I stood up here ten years ago and said, as soon as we do this, it’s going to diminish bowl games, the importance of bowl games. Everybody would just be interested in the playoffs.

Well, that’s where we are right now. I mean, we have players choosing not to play in bowl games because it’s not important because they’re going to save themselves for the draft. All of these things are not good for college football.

So there’s a lot of philosophical questions that everybody needs to sort of take into consideration as what the best way to do this whole thing is, and I don’t think I have the answer to that. That’s not what I get paid to do.

So — but — and I can’t tell you how or why or if they should have gotten in the playoffs relative to UCF.