“I Was Really Disappointed” – Nick Saban slams Alabama stars’ behavior after Rose Bowl loss to Michigan

Nick Saban isn’t exactly singing “Hail to the Victors” after Alabama’s heartbreaking 27-20 loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

It was a heartbreaking ending, with the Wolverines grabbing victory in overtime by stopping Alabama’s Jalen Milroe on a critical fourth down.

Nick Saban says the way Alabama players acted after losing to Michigan in the CFP certainly contributed to his retirement 👀

“I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the game. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with class.”

“… and then showing… pic.twitter.com/oW3Y85H6pi

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) March 6, 2024

The aftermath was as intense as expected, with Alabama’s sideline portraying sadness and rage. Tears mixed with adrenaline as the reality set in: the Crimson Tide’s season had come to an abrupt end. The scenes that followed left Saban with a bad taste in his mouth, both on the field and in the locker room.

While Saban believes that the Rose Bowl loss was not the sole cause for his resignation, he was blunt about how the players’ behavior offended him.

“I want to be clear that wasn’t the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,” Saban said in an interview with ESPN. “I was very disappointed in how the players acted after the game.” You must win with class. You must lose with class. “We had opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t. Showing your ass, being frustrated, throwing helmets, and doing that stuff is not who we are or what we’ve promoted in our program.”

Man, Nick Saban is really letting it fly in retirement: pic.twitter.com/8XtVVirKID

— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) March 6, 2024

It’s reasonable to lose your cool in a high-pressure situation like the Rose Bowl. However, Saban appeared unimpressed. He even pointed fingers at players worried about their future playing time and NIL payments, implying that these concerns influenced his retirement decision.

But let’s be honest here. Money talks, and it’s been whispering sweet nothings into college football’s ears for a while. Saban’s retirement appears to be motivated by the changing nature of the game, rather than a few unhappy players flinging helmets.

“Maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?” Saban said. “Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.”

Nick Saban says NIL, the transfer portal, age, and staff turnover impacted his decision to retire.

“Maybe 70 or 80% of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play… and how much are you going to pay me?”

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 6, 2024

Sure, Saban is a legend, but college football will continue to thrive without him. He hung up his hat as the game changed, with NIL deals and an expanded playoff system stirring things up. Saban read the indications loud and clear. It’s a new era in college football, and even the finest coaches recognize when it’s time to transfer the torch.