Tommy Tuberville says he wasn't surprised by Nick Saban's retirement: 'He's kind of outgrown his time'
Tommy Tuberville has the unique view of both being on the sideline against Nick Saban, with a 1-1 record in the Iron Bowl, and meeting with Saban as NIL legislation was discussed in Washington.
The former Auburn coach and current U.S. Senator from Alabama shared his initial reaction to Saban’s departure on “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.”
“Wasn’t really shocked,” Tuberville said. “He and I have talked quite a bit about the NIL over the last 2 years. He’s very disappointed in the direction that college football and college sports are going. I think you could just see that Nick is one of those that he has to control the football team. He has to have total control, and what the NIL does is it takes control out of the hands of the head football coach and coaches, it gives it more back to the players, right or wrong. He’s kind of outgrown his time.”
Tuberville recalled that he and Saban came up during a time when college football was about discipline, education and pulling a team together.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “But now that money’s gotten involved, which right or wrong, it’s there to stay. It’s different and it’s different for people especially like Nick. So I wasn’t surprised. I thought he might go another year or 2, but he made the decision. He’s got a lot of business deals going on all across the country and I’m sure he’s going to get involved in that now.”
Former Auburn coach @TTuberville reacts to the retirement of Alabama legend Nick Saban.
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— The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show (@clayandbuck) January 17, 2024