Lousiana Sports Hall of Fame
By Chris Marler
Twelve new members were inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, including one of the most polarizing figures in the state’s history: Nick Saban.
Over the weekend the appointed college football coaching G.O.A.T. enlightened people on the origins of him taking the job at LSU and how the deal may have been sealed thanks to Miss Terry, not his agent.
“She spent two days,” Saban began. “I said ‘Well, what’d you think?’ And she said ‘Man, this place needs a lot of work.’ She said ‘The stadium is in bad shape, they have no academic facilities, they have no academic support center, the players are not doing well academically.’ She said, ‘You have to get in the bus to ride to practice every day from the campus because the facilities are separated. The coach’s office is in a bank building and really unimpressive. I don’t know how you would recruit there.’ But she said ‘I went in the weight room today. They’ve got some damn good looking players.’ So that’s how I took the job.”
Saban told this story this weekend, saying that prior to the press conference his mood changed.
‘Terry, this is not really what I thought it might be after your interview,’” Saban said. “And she said, ‘Put on your big boy pants on and get your ass in the press conference and get to work.’ So, that’s what we did.”
Saban’s time in Baton Rouge was left with a lot of mixed reviews and even more emotion from the fans and place that he left. He came to Baton Rouge at a time when LSU was coming off eight losing seasons in 11 years. By his fourth year, he led LSU to their first national championship since 1958.
“That success was probably a memory that is hard to forget.” 🏆
Louisiana Sports HOF inductee Nick Saban discussed his memories at LSU, including the 2003 National Title. @KALBSports @LaSportsHall pic.twitter.com/FL8oxiw7Zo
— Harrison Vapnek (@harrisonvapnek) June 29, 2025
Things became complicated after that as he, by his own accord, made the biggest mistake of his professional career and took a job with the Dolphins.
He’d later return to one of LSU’s biggest rivals, leading them to six national titles and leaving a trail of dominance and resentment across the SEC, especially in Baton Rouge.
Still, Saban has always held a soft spot for LSU, not just for the opportunity they gave him, but for being the springboard to his legendary career.
Saban will no doubt be inducted into multiple halls of fame and continue collecting accolades for years to come. But this one meant more than most.
Nick Saban’s daughter, Kristen, reflected on the special weekend and the memories it stirred from her father’s early days in the SEC and his first steps into big-time college football. While Saban appeared honored by the recognition, his family seemed to feel a mix of pride and relief.
“It’s about time they inducted him,” Kristen Saban said.
Well said.
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