Will McLelland-Imagn Images
By Rivers Hughey
SEC Media Days rarely gave us any true viral moments this year. We got about two, not including Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz referencing the Epstein files in a humorous opening statement.
One of those moments was when Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian accidentally walked up to the podium while the Aggie War Hymn blared from the speakers.
The bigger moment? It came courtesy of Greg McElroy, and Nick Saban’s retirement, or alleged lack thereof.
McElroy casually mentioned that someone “in the know” told him Saban might not be done with coaching. It wasn’t a bold proclamation. He didn’t call his shot. It was more of a “hey, wouldn’t that be something” kind of comment. But it didn’t matter. The match was lit.
McElroy spent the rest of the week trying to put out the flames he accidentally started. And when I spoke to him, it was clear he didn’t expect that off-handed comment to go full wildfire. It gave the same energy as someone who accidentally replied all on a company wide email.
Still, the question hung in the air: Could Saban come back?
On Friday, the man himself answered. And the answer was a firm and unsurprising no.
“I’m really happy with what I’m doing right now,” Saban told Fox News. “It’s exciting to still be involved in the game… to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to create opportunities for young people.”
Saban is heading into his second season as an analyst on ESPN’s “College Gameday.”
When asked if the return of Bill Belichick to college football might tempt him back to the game, Saban didn’t blink.
“There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would entice me to go back to coaching,” he said. “I did it for 50 years. I loved it… but it’s another station of life now. I want to spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. And it’s been really, really good.”
This isn’t a guy waiting in the wings for the perfect job to open up. This is a guy who already had the perfect job, for half a century, and is ready for what’s next.
So no, Nick Saban isn’t coming back. But shoutout to McElroy for accidentally giving us the rarest of SEC Media Days gems: a true viral moment.
Even if it came with a little smoke.
