Paul Finebaum blames $80 million worth Nick Saban for "choking the life out of" this college football rivalry
Several college football programs were glad to see the back of former Alabama coach Nick Saban when he retired in January. The celebrated coach had kept a stranglehold with the Crimson Tide on most head-to-head records with other programs.
Most famously, Alabama has a long-standing rivalry with the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. The $80 million worth Saban (as per Forbes) had an incredible 12-5 record against the Tigers, spread over five permanent and one interim coach of the other side.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum opined on the Paul Finebaum Show that the former Bama coach's record in the rivalry game diminished its status among modern college football rivalries.
"I don't believe the Alabama-Auburn rivalry in any way compares to what it did 15 or 20 years ago," Finebaum said. "Nick Saban choked the life out of it. It became, 'Well, maybe we can beat them every two or three years' vs. what it was back in the 1970s, 80s, 90s and even up to the day that Saban got there."
Nick Saban had a dramatic last Iron Bowl game
The Iron Bowl, while dominated by Nick Saban and Alabama in the past few years, has not been short of drama. This includes the 'kick six' game which ruined Bama's national championship game chances in 2013.
Last year's game was no different and the action was reserved for the final minute. Predictably, it was the Tigers fans left stunned in a game that they dominated and still ended up losing 27-24.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered a perfect 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to wide receiver Isaiah Bond in the dying moments of the game. This move won Saban his last Iron Bowl with the Crimson Tide.
After the game, in his postgame news conference, the coach was philosophical about the manner in which his team had won the rivalry game. He highlighted instances when luck deserted his team in the past as well.
"We've been on both sides of the good fortune and the misfortune, and I've got to admit, we had good fortune," Saban said. "But it still comes down to ability to execute. Somebody had an opportunity to make a play, whether it was their punt returner or IB [Bond] in the end zone and whoever was guarding him. That's why you play the game."
That Iron Bowl win ended up being crucial in Nick Saban getting a chance at a final national championship swansong. The Tide were, as it turned out, controversially included in the college football playoff, although they ultimately just fell short.