During her more than ten years as the Crimson Tide’s First Lady, Terry Saban has created countless memories that she will always cherish. Her husband, Alabama legend Nick Saban, received a great honor this month when the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium was named after him. The commemoration of this momentous occasion will take place during the Crimson Tide’s game against USF in September.
Terry Saban fondly remembers her favorite times of “experiencing the walk of champions, and our million dollar band, and Big Al, the lights, the big plays, the great hot dogs in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Four generations watching and cheering together.” She stated, “And being able to say ‘Roll Tide’ after every first down, we will never forget that,” according to AL.com.
In a recent incident, Deion Sanders, the coach of Colorado, praised Saban’s marriage by calling it admirable. In fact, he went on to say that Saban’s wife, fondly known as “Miss Terry,” could teach a masterclass on being a supportive spouse.
Sanders couldn’t contain his excitement as he exclaimed, “I feel like a kid in a candy shop!” Sitting cross-legged in front of Coach Saban, he eagerly asked questions about everything he could think of. All it takes is a simple “and?” to keep him going. Sanders has a deep admiration for Coach Saban and his wife Terry, who he respectfully refers to as Mrs. Saban. According to Sanders, Mrs. Saban could teach a masterclass on supporting her husband, and all women should take notes from her.
Before retiring earlier this year, Saban’s wife noticed that coaching had become more than just recruiting, developing, and mentoring athletes. She questioned why he was still coaching at that point.
According to Sanders, Miss Terry’s support is simply unbelievable. “You can get beaten down and feel defeated, but when you check your phone and see a message from her, it’s just unbelievable,” he stated in admiration.
During the spring, Saban revealed that his moment of realization about retirement came in the form of a “red alert” conversation with Miss Terry.
According to Bama247, Nick Saban shared an anecdote about his wife’s realization regarding college football recruits during a Sunday breakfast with their parents. His wife would typically meet with the mothers and discuss how they would help and impact their sons, ensuring they were well taken care of. However, she approached Saban before his retirement and questioned the purpose of the meetings. She explained that the recruits only cared about how much they would be paid, and not about their development, which was the focus of the program. Saban’s wife wondered why they were continuing to hold these meetings.
In my opinion, it was a clear indication that we were creating an environment that was not conducive to the growth of young individuals. This realization always motivated me to do what I did and follow in the footsteps of my father. That is why I have always been more inclined towards college athletics as compared to the NFL. The reason being, college sports provide a platform to nurture and develop young individuals into well-rounded personalities.
In January, Saban made it clear that his decision to retire at 72 had nothing to do with NIL or the transfer portal. He reiterated in a recent interview with ESPN that these were not the reasons behind his retirement. However, he did mention that his relationships with players played a role in his decision.
