"Best behavior I've seen you on": When Nick Saban shared an adorable moment with reporter holding a baby
During an October 2021 Zoom press conference, Alabama’s legendary former coach Nick Saban shared a heartwarming moment with a reporter who was multitasking in a unique way. The Athletic’s Aaron Suttles asked Saban a question about linebacker Henry To'oTo'o while holding his baby son, juggling both journalism and dad duties.
With a grin, Saban responded:
“Well. I have a question for you. First of all. I mean, did I finally get to meet the boss?”
Suttles, a bit sheepish, replied:
“I apologize. My wife is not home yet, so I'm having to pull dad duty.”
But Saban, known for his disciplined coaching style, took it in stride, joking:
“This is the best behavior I’ve seen you on since I’ve been here.”
When Suttles apologized again, Saban assured him:
“No, you don’t have to apologize. If this is the way it’s going to be, I’d like for him to be there all the time. [Laughter in the room].”
Later, Suttles took to social media, posting about the moment with Saban.
“Well, this is a moment for which little man will one day laugh at me,” he wrote. “Thanks to Coach Nick Saban for showing me some graciousness as I was forced to pull dad duty during his press conference tonight.”
In January, Suttles also shared on X that this memory with the coach stands out as his favorite.
"Covering Nick Saban, I reported on nine national championship games (including six wins), nine SEC championships, four Heisman Trophy winners, countless All-Americans, and I could go on and on," he wrote. "But this will always be my favorite memory with the man."
Nick Saban’s honest reaction on Pat McAfee’s show about a viral College GameDay moment
This September, Nick Saban shared an unexpectedly honest reaction on Pat McAfee’s show, clearing the air about a viral College GameDay moment.
Back in Week 1, fans caught Saban’s priceless expression as he sat next to McAfee, who was energetically dancing on set. Social media had a field day with Saban's look, joking that he might already be fed up with McAfee — and McAfee seemed to agree!
By Sept. 6, just before Week 2 of GameDay, McAfee brought up the viral moment on his show, laughing as he recalled:
“You side-eyed the s*** out of me.”
Saban explained:
“I didn’t know what to think.”
McAfee joked, that Saban probably thought “I was an a******," to which Saban quickly replied:
"No, I wasn't thinking that. We're a team & you've made it a lot easier for me"
While Saban may be retired from coaching Alabama, he hasn’t stepped away from college football. ESPN brought him on as a "College GameDay" analyst for 2024, with additional roles for SEC media day and NFL draft coverage.
Also Read: “I am embarrassed” - When former Alabama HC Nick Saban bluntly expressed his frustration with his team’s play