Miss Terry discusses how Nick Saban prepares for College GameDay every week
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Miss Terry and Nick Saban have been married for over half a century. In 2025, the decorated former head coach will kick off his second season as an analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay, with the show opening the year in Columbus on Aug. 30.
Of course, planning for a weekly television pregame show is a little different than preparing to lead a college football team out on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium or elsewhere. The emphasis, in this case at least, is on the word “little”, as the notoriously detail-oriented Saban is extra careful to do his homework before every episode, Miss Terry said during an interview with a Tuscaloosa cable access program.
Per AL.com’s Nick Kelly, Saban “watches film for three or four days” and “calls coaches to get feedback”, also taking time to attend practices.
“That’s the beauty of Nick’s new vocation with media is he can still be around football. His favorite part is the preparation before College GameDay,” Miss Terry said.
For years, Saban was the one at the podium dealing with reporters, his press conference rants and prickly relationship with media members becoming part of his legend. Now, as a member of the media himself, he’s been able to build a great relationship with the GameDay cast, especially as he worked through some early jitters, Miss Terry added.
“That whole crew on College GameDay, such good people. They really supported Nick,” she said. “When he first came, they gave him ideas. They helped him. Nick was nervous in the beginning. Every one of them were so wonderful and supportive and fun to be around.”
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
