PHOTO: Alabama icon Nick Saban, wife Ms. Terry, and daughter Kristen turn up for Week 1 matchup against Western Kentucky
It was a bittersweet moment for the Alabama Crimson Tide when Nick Saban turned up at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. The Roll Tide fans had seen Saban in Tuscaloosa on the opening weekend for the past 17 years, but this time was different.
The 72-year-old was on the wrong side of the field. Saban had been calling the shots at Alabama for almost two decades, but there's a new order of things following his retirement from coaching in January 2024. The former coach, however, was present with his family to support Alabama from the stands.
Kristen Saban, Nick's daughter, posted a picture on Instagram posing with her dad and mom, Miss Terry, as Alabama began its 2024 season against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers under new coach - Kalen DeBoer. She captioned the post:
"Very demure."
In another video shot by a fan and posted on X, Kristen and Miss Terry can be seen cheering for the Crimson Tide and absorbing the stadium's electric atmosphere as Saban stood behind them. Have a look:
Life seemed to begin in a fairytale manner for Alabama fans in the post-Saban era, as DeBoer's Crimson Tide were cruising towards victory, 42-0, at the time of this writing.
Also read: How long was Nick Saban at Alabama? A closer look at former Crimson Tide HC's professional career
Nick Saban enjoying post-retirement life
The 7x national championship winner is making the most of his post-retirement life, and it seems like he's having a blast. Saban is now a regular on ESPN’s "College GameDay," and his presence has added a new level of excitement to the show.
He’s also busy with commercials and his new TV role as an ESPN College “GameDay analyst.” Saban appeared in a VRBO commercial in which he played a strict host, much like his tenure at Alabama, where he alone ran the show.
Appearing on the Pat McAfee show, Saban joked about his acting skills in the commercial, saying:
“Well, you know, Pat’s my idol. He helped me on TV, sitting next to me. And I was trying to be like him on that commercial. That’s just the kind of jerk I always am.”
But the fun didn’t stop there. Saban also appeared in a Home Depot commercial, struggling to master the art of taking a selfie with the "College GameDay" crew.
While some may have figured that Nick Saban would take a break from football, having dedicated his last 50 years to the game, the former Alabama coach has different ideas.
Also read: WATCH: Nick Saban has priceless reaction to hug by half-naked Pat McAfee while ‘leprechaun’ Lee Corso dances