Nick Saban's Appreciation For His Players Runs Deep

Nick Saban has led Alabama to four national titles in seven years and has tallied five in his collegiate coaching career, making him the only coach besides Bear Bryant to win at least five. 

Saban also recorded his 100th win when he beat Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers in Monday night's national championship game.

With his many accomplishments and growing dynasty, the Crimson Tide coach never fails to remain humble.

 “As long as you do this, it’s always about your next play. It’s always about the next game, so I’ve never really ever thought too much about all that,” Saban explained, when asked about his five titles. “I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for all the players who have played for us, came to our school, bought into our program, [and] did the things that they needed to do to have a chance to experience a championship whether it was at LSU or the four at Alabama. So, that’s where most of my appreciation lies is with the players.”

Although you can learn a lot of things from playing football such as work ethic, consistency, overcoming adversity and perseverance, Saban’s teachings and appreciation for his players runs deeper than football.

“We want these guys to succeed first of all as people, make the right choices and decisions, the best choices and decisions, have the right thoughts, habits, and priorities and help them make those choices and decisions so they can take advantage of their gifts,” said Saban. “[We want them to] be more successful in life for having been involved in the program, and all the people in our organization that’s what they work to try to help them do. We want them to all develop a career off the field so that they graduate from school and have a better opportunity to be successful in life.”

After beating No. 1 Clemson 45-40, Saban stated that he’d never been prouder of any group of guys in his life.

“The commitment that these guys made early in the season after the Ole Miss loss, to do all the things that they needed to do to be the kind of team that we could be, I can’t say enough about,” he said. “I really wanted to do the best that I could do for this team, probably as much as any team that I’ve ever coached because I really did want them to have the opportunity to win this game.”

Crimson Tide running back and Heisman winner Derrick Henry scored the first touchdown of the game when he found a hole to reach the end zone on a 50-yard burst up the middle. He wrapped with 158 yards on 36 carries and broke Alabama’s all-time rushing record when he tallied 3,568 career rushing yards in the third quarter. But O.J. Howard was named offensive player of the game, recording five catches for 208 yards, including a 63-yarder that set up the Crimson Tide’s final TD.

Saban also gave respect to Clemson's team for their 14-1 season.

“You gotta give Clemson’s team a lot of credit,” he added. “They’ve got a great football team. Their quarterback’s a fabulous player. Their team played hard and, you know, I’d like to congratulate them on the great season that they had.”

Clemson’s impressive numbers against Alabama’s tight defense were mostly contributed by Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson, who passed for 405 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 73, tallying 478 total yards, the most ever recorded in a national title game.