Nick Saban dons Miami hat on College GameDay, picks the Canes to upset Indiana
By David Wasson
Published:
Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban can boast having both coaches in Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game on his staff – but when the time came to decide on a winner between Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes and Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers, Saban didn’t waver with his pick.
At the conclusion of ESPN’s College GameDay show and minutes before kickoff, Saban donned a gray Miami Hurricanes hat and declared “I am going with the Canes, man!”
Cristobal coached under Saban at Alabama from 2013-16, serving as associate head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. The Crimson Tide went 47-6 and won the 2015 CFP national title with Cristobal on staff.
Cignetti was a part of Saban’s inaugural coaching staff at Alabama, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007-10. The Crimson Tide went on a 29-game winning streak, won the 2009 BCS national title and went 38-11 overall.
Indiana and Miami had never played each other before Monday’s CFP title game. The Hoosiers were playing for their first-ever national championship, while Miami was playing for its sixth title – and first since 2001.
Saban retired after the 2023 season having won six national titles at Alabama (along with one at LSU) and with a 201-29 record with the Crimson Tide.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
