Alabama’s Nick Saban is considered by many to be the best college football coach ever, but in the past two years he saw protégé Kirby Smart win back-to-back national championships at rival Georgia.
Additionally, the Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff last year for only the second time since the Playoff began in 2015. With all that in mind, Saban is at risk of hurting his legacy in the twilight of his career, according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.
“If he is in the same league as someone who, at the end of the season, has won three, that’s a big hit on his legacy,” Finebaum said on First Take, referring to the possibility of Smart and Georgia winning another national title.
Nick Saban's legacy could be viewed differently if Alabama misses the CFP again this season, according to @finebaum 👀 pic.twitter.com/6lijtdO09f
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 17, 2023
Although Finebaum said he didn’t want to take away from Saban’s seven national championships, the famed college football analyst believes last year’s disappointment was a stain on Saban’s record, especially considering he had two of the top three picks in the 2023 NFL draft.
“I think you also have to question Saban for what happened last year. He had the best team in the country going in, they were nearly unanimous,” Finebaum said. “And with that he still couldn’t get it done.”
However, that take did not sit well with college football fans, many of whom think Saban already has done enough to cement his legacy.
A 189-27 record, 9 national championship game appearances, 6 National Championships, 8 SEC championships, 44 1st round picks in the NFL draft produced since 2007....
— sean (@SeanNeutron) July 17, 2023
But yea ESPN says Saban's legacy will be viewed differently if Bama misses the CFP this year.
🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 https://t.co/vv9tGC6Uc1
No it’s not lol he’s the best there ever was, period. https://t.co/RddEuODifW
— Austin (@AStheGOAT24) July 17, 2023
Lol stupid, he has like 7-8 national titles and his teams are in the conversation every year https://t.co/nPmQECgHPo
— Bruce Brooks Jr. (@CoachBBrooks_) July 17, 2023
This is one of the worst takes I've ever heard https://t.co/yrizmV4Ndz
— HoodieTua🥋 (Ramsey SZN) (61-31) (@HoodieTua) July 17, 2023
Bear Bryant NEVER made a CFB Playoff, so clearly we should view his legacy different too… right? https://t.co/mGv9weJpjt
— Brooks Carter (@BrooksACarter) July 17, 2023
