Deion Sanders, the head coach of Colorado football, expressed his surprise and disbelief at the retirement of Nick Saban, the legendary coach of Alabama football. Sanders took to social media to share his initial reaction to the news, emphasizing that he never expected Saban’s retirement to come so soon. He believes that the current landscape of college football played a role in Saban’s decision to retire, suggesting that changes such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the NCAA transfer portal have significantly impacted the game.
“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement,” Sanders wrote. “WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let’s hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see.”
WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let’s hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 10, 2024
ESPN’s Chris Low also weighed in on Saban’s retirement, providing insights into the timing of his decision. Low highlighted that at 72 years old, the demanding nature of coaching, involving 14-hour days, became increasingly challenging for Saban. Saban’s commitment to coaching was unwavering, and he was not inclined to scale back or seek assistance. Low believes that Saban felt he had given his all to make Alabama a championship contender and that the timing was right for him and his family to step away from coaching.
Saban’s retirement marks the end of an era in college football, and his absence from the sidelines at Tuscaloosa will undoubtedly leave a significant void in the sport.