Alabama recently gave ESPN.com a day of full access with Nick Saban.

The coach entering his 10th season discusses a number of topics with Chris Low, including graduate transfer Maurice Smith, a story that has dominated the recent news cycle.

Saban told Low the feeling that he failed Smith somehow, as the defensive back did not want to finish his career at Alabama, keeps him up at night.

“The thing I lose sleep over the most is not winning and losing the games. It’s about players. It’s about a guy who’s not doing the right thing or somebody you’re trying to get to see the light and buy into doing the right things,” Saban said. “I’ve been coaching for 43 years, and to have what happened with Maurice Smith and his family, that’s what I lose sleep over.

“We’ve got 53 players in the NFL and a whole bunch of other ones who aren’t in the NFL and are very successful. But what I lay awake at night and think about is where did I fail a guy like Maurice Smith. What didn’t I do, or what could I have done better?”

In a recent Instagram post, Smith showed appreciation for his three seasons with the Crimson Tide while also expressing excitement about becoming a Bulldog.

Blessed In So Many Ways! Words Aren’t Able To Express How Much GOD Has Helped Me Grow These Past Months! I Want To Thank The University Of Alabama And All That They Have Helped Me Accomplish In The Last Three Years! I Have Nothing But Love For Coach Saban, His Staff, And The Wonderful Fans In Tuscaloosa! Despite Me Leaving To Become A Dawg, I Will Always Have Three Things No One Can Take Away From Me. And That Is My Degree, The Friendships And Brotherhood I Have Made In Ttown, And My National Championship! I Hope That GOD Has Used Me To Show That Anything Is Possible And To Never Give Up On What You Believe Is Right! No Man Can Stand In The Way Of What GOD Has Planned For You! My Family Went All Out For Me And I Will Go All Out For Them! I Love All Of My Bama Bros And They Know That Will Never Change! I Am Blessed For The Opportunity The Coaches And Staff At The University Of Georgia Have Given Me And I Am Blessed To Call Myself A Dawg! #GoDawgs ?? #SmithRoyalty ? (The 2 Stands For A 2nd Chance)

A photo posted by Maurice Smith II (@mosmithii) on Aug 13, 2016 at 4:44pm PDT

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.