TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ One of the consistent aspects of the University of Alabama football program’s three national championships over the last five seasons was that Nick Saban never seemed to see the celebratory bucket dousing coming.

Tuesday evening he not only saw it, but embraced it.

“Oh, yeah,” Saban said. “We had them do it off the porch, so no one got hit in the head.

“Really good that our team had an interest in doing that.”

Joining millions of people nationwide the entire Crimson Tide participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS after practice. For those who don’t know, the popular challenge dares nominated participants to have a bucket of ice water poured on their head and afterward they nominate others to do the same within 24 hours or donate money to charity.

Former Alabama fullback Kevin Turner is among those dealing with the incurable neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and can result in complete paralysis.

Saban challenged U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III, former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram Jr., journalist Paul Finebaum, and Florida coach Will Muschamp. Manchin is a childhood friend from West Virginia.

More than once when players have given Saban the Gatorade treatment before accepting the crystal football for winning the national championship he’s been accidentally hit in the head.

“I think it was awesome,” Crimson Tide senior safety Jarrick Williams said. “Any time you get a chance to dump water on Coach Saban …”

Since July 29 the campaign has raised $22.9million in donations compared to the $1.9 million during the same time period last year, in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“Our top priority right now is acknowledging all the gifts made by donors to The ALS Association,” Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association said in a statement. “We want to be the best stewards of this incredible influx of support. To do that, we need to be strategic in our decision making as to how the funds will be spent so that when people look back on this event in ten and twenty years, the Ice Bucket Challenge will be seen as a real game-changer for ALS,” she continued.

ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. This summer was the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s speech announcing his retirement from Major League Baseball because of his diagnosis (July 2, 1939). He died less than two years later, June 2, 1941, at the age of 37.