The Nick Saban Witness Protection Program | College GameDay

Alabama’s Nick Saban isn’t the GOAT by accident. He finds value in head coaches who have been fired, and they often find a new head coaching job after spending time in what one former member of the Alabama staff calls, “The Nick Saban Witness Protection Program.”
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[@jordanb.4514]

As much as I dislike Saban, I'm convinced dude means everything to CFB at this point.

[@heidibrinkley4865]

You shouldn’t dislike him, you should like him.

[@JamesKP17847]

You need a course in “don’t hate the player hate the game”

[@jordanb.4514]

@@heidibrinkley4865 thanks for the insightful comment, heidi (--:

[@jordanb.4514]

@@JamesKP17847 thank you for that wonderfully insightful comment reggie!

[@houseofbuck007]

Wow I have a new level of respect for coach Nick

[@TransplantHelper]

If Saban ever retires I’d like to see all of these guys come back and build a coaching staff to take up the tradition.

[@iluvdissheet]

My money was on Kirby or Kiffin but now that they're at other SEC schools ....not sure. But yea, I wouldn't mind any of these guys. Anyone...except Jimbo 😠

[@ezmoney5087]

@@iluvdissheet 💯

[@ricknone4686]

Hopefully they don't get as Lucky as Oklahoma! Bringing Venables in! Guess Linky boy probably be available after USC fires him! BOOMER SOONER! All you people probably forget there is another Coach that has had assistants move on to head Coaching! Started by Synder at K state and good ole big game Bob ! Look at Arkansas, Tennessee!

[@ezmoney5087]

@@ricknone4686 nobody has lost assistants anywhere close to what NICK SABAN has, that's just another great attribute about the GOAT, maintaining championship teams in spite of that, Bear Bryant also had quite a few protoges under him that went on to be great HCs , Bobby Bowden, Gene Stallings, Jackie S. Just to name a few nobody will likely accomplish what SABAN and Bryant has and SABAN isn't done ROLL TIDE ROLL

[@iluvdissheet]

@@davebryant8050 not sure if you were commenting to me....but pretty much. 😄 Our tradition (pre-saban) was to get someone affiliated with the program. I dont think we hire Saban straight from LSU. Also, not from Auburn, not Jimbo, and you have to have a record of winning....but in 3 or so years when coach retires, I think you can convince a Kiffin or Kirby (possibly) to take the reigns. Sark got a shot too but we may have lost him to that Texas money.

[@benjsmithproductions]

"when you're fired, you find out how many friends you truly have" SOOOOO TRUE!!!!

[@brettjern3264]

As a diehard Georgia fan Saban has broken my heart quite a few times but there isn't any doubt to me that he is the goat. Before 1998 no one actually "won" a national championship because it was just voted on. Nick actually played and won his 7 national championships.

[@wwrussell180]

Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach of all time. Despite of that, he still does not get enough credit for the good man that he is.

[@tracycalloway7160]

Such humility from these very talented coaches, So glad they are head coaches again.

[@connectionsplus]

I can relate. I’ve been fired, betrayed, lied to and tossed out to the curb at an age that people have no interest in hiring you for your skills, experience, accomplishments and accumulated knowledge. But I didn’t have a Nick Saban to pull me out of that predicament. It’s good that these guys were fortunate enough to get a second chance and are grateful for it.

[@davidnelson4960]

Well said my brother.

[@paulfierce]

Those guys were still millionaires after they got fired

[@a_r_striker1149]

@@paulfierce why is we talking money?😐smh

[@maryeverling8238]

@@paulfierce Don’t think it’s about “ money”, it’s about self preservation n your reputation, your ability to continue in your chosen career!

[@OsborneCox.69.420]

Getting fired unexpectedly from a great job was a sobering experience for me. I was completely blind to my shortcomings as an employee and I learned a lot from that experience.

[@michaelmoseley7359]

Auburn fan just gave this video a thumbs up.

[@iluvdissheet]

I 👀 you war eagle....respect.

[@bamahi7142]

I wouldn't doubt that even the laundry staff at Bama fold towels like champions.

[@kesselrunheroj8497]

A fantastic documentary - glad this got made. Should have calle it the Nick Saban Rehab Program

[@mauriciotorres4974]

Thank you Nick!

[@WashburnD10]

Nothing but respect for Coach Saban

[@billy9497able]

I was honestly sad when Butch Jones left Tennessee. I thought that he showed the most promise of all the coaches we've had since Fulmer. He certainly had the passion and the love for the university of Tennessee

[@beau_body4152]

“WHERE FOCUS GOES, ENERGY FLOWS” BAMA FAN FROM UTAH. -ROLL TIDE 🐘💯💪🏾

[@iluvdissheet]

RollTide

[@ezmoney5087]

ROLL TIDE

[@johnnyguinn7641]

Love him or hate him... Saban IS the GOAT

[@jordanb.4514]

Now THIS was good content. Great video. Wow! Butch Jones! mad respect. Dude humbly admitted he went from 4M to 30K in a year.

[@maryeverling8238]

not exactly… he was paid the remaining portion of his contract from UT

[@cm1133]

With 9 million dollars on the back from a buyout from Tennessee.

[@brucescanlan1162]

God has a way of blessing people who help other people.

[@wormjohnson2348]

Now this is quality content 🐐🐐🐐 for many reasons

[@NTKHZN]

Okay, I’m all on board with every coach you highlighted but Lyle. Lmfao

[@BamaDega]

I guess Scott Frost will be the next analyst at Bama....

[@starcityrc3298]

I hope, I am still a Fan of his. I want him to be a success.

[@MashiroRedo]

Wow from 4M to 30K, you have eat your ego and glad these guys did. That’s life ya! Take the good and the hard times we’ll.

[@fitforfreelance]

Staying humble to rebuild! 💯

[@stevegatoloai2179]

Nick doesn’t judge them, he gives them a second chance to redeem themselves. Salute 💯

[@robl39]

Coaching… one of the most high stakes, cut throat and brutal careers in existence.

[@A_Realist]

They get paid handsomely tho. Even if it is one year lol

[@Noles4life77]

If Butch Jones can get paid 4 mil in one year coaching can’t be that bad lol

[@jaydab]

Nick‼️

[@ThundarBarBar]

Basic Bill Obrien still don’t have any friends cause he apparently hasn’t learned to call plays.

[@levigueydan6410]

he about to hire scott frost for something haha

[@muzikmind77]

Roll god dam tide.. i wish my grampaw was still here to see all this.. we dont have much in alabama and we try and keep what we got special... forever we will roll with the tide

[@Rageousss]

I want Bill O’ Brian fired last season. I still have him as the #1 issue with offense. When you have a team struggling with pass protection a good OC draws up plays to help with it. Also just like last year, he has Bryce doing 30 seconds of adjustment and always snaps the ball under 5 seconds. Like go fast

[@Kayluv101]

All of these guys owe saban a huge thanks for saving thr careers...

[@ezmoney5087]

Awesome video, SABAN is the GOAT, and if players and coaches trust his process they will succeed, the joke though the SABAN rehab clinic for coaches is true RTR

[@bradyb2233]

He really did change the sport. God do I route for them to lose every Saturday, but I will be very sad to see Coach leave…

[@dashcamcalifornia5003]

Scott Frost next!

[@BBNTrashtalker]

Saban witness protection program 😭😭😭 that’s comedy

[@sc100ott]

John L Smith and Bobby Williams also say, “Hi!”

[@trueguidesbenjamin7755]

Dabo, stark or kiffin, but stark as my #1

[@starcityrc3298]

Scott Frost. Also it's no wonder how Bama has stayed on Top. They have Assistant Coaches with Head Coaching experience. Brilliant

[@Britton_Thompson]

No, it's more than that actually. Alabama has assistant coaches with head coaching experience *who are hungry and motivated to prove themselves all over again!*

[@kha5518]

GOAT-Nick Saban!!!

[@jamescrabb8766]

Sometimes you rise very high and then you fall very far, that's life. Get up and try again.

[@haroldfarquad6886]

I mean the only thing Lyle Jones was qualified to do was bring Saban his coffee, so kudos to Saban for his beneficence.

[@milesroe5082]

Scott Frost will be next!

[@jeffpatterson3676]

First time I saw sabin at LSU said to myself who is this guy had lots of class bout him

[@markjackson6431]

Scott Frost is coming to Bama

[@chrisholland8843]

4000000 million as a college head coach WOWWWW

[@TravisDoesKayakFishing]

Legit really did Lane dirty. He wasn't respected by many at the time, other than his offense, but leaving the dude on the tarmac is the wrong move. Add in that he was helping rebuild with sanctions from the Reggie Bush fallout. 28-15 for where they were and the way the college athletics operated was solid IMO. He likely would have been successful there with time and backing.

[@brodydon3]

Scott Forst here we come

[@montecarlo4294]

Add Scott Frost to that list

[@jw4172]

Scott Frost next? He did win a championship at Central Florida, lol

[@Jonas-nf2bc]

Hey, we have a banner and we went to Disney World!

[@peterwhite7428]

At university of New Mexico Locksley went 0 for 13, and got into a fight with his assistant coach, and I hope he has changed his off field behavior at Maryland

[@joshuaanderson743]

Scott Frost next ?

[@mikeellis7286]

Which NFL team doesn't have a Bama player 🤔 Nick is the vendors machine.

[@eddiejames7201]

yes but lane left Tennessee in the middle of the night without a word ...so what comes around goes around

[@loganrethwisch1748]

Frost is gonna be bama new oc next year

[@bamahammer3660]

I truly believe that Sarkisian would have been the next Alabama HC after Saban retires if he would have stayed. Him and Lane Kiffin are some of the greatest offensive minds in college football. I believe Saban will retire before 2030 when his contract ends if he finds a replacement. He owns two Mercedes Benz Dealerships so he is not hurting for money. But him and his wife Ms Terry loves UA more than anything.

[@tskeldin29123]

Scott Frost will be the next one

[@rogerputman1610]

I would dare say that Nick feels that the only thing you owe him is a good game when you play him. And not after the game win or loose

[@rogerputman1610]

So go give him a good game and he will be proud of you

[@Jonas-nf2bc]

Lane Kiffin will be the next head coach at Alabama.

[@ezmoney5087]

I'm thinking that's a good possibility, he'd be my favorite choice other than Kirby Smart, I don't think Kirby is obtainable though, but I'm in no rush for SABAN to retire I hope he stays healthy and can finish his contract through 2030 RTR

[@77bronc14]

I think Kirby has the inside track on the next Bama HC.

[@colinthomas867]

Dabo - Alabama Alumni

[@ezmoney5087]

@@colinthomas867 for awhile I thought that's a good possibility, and might still happen we don't know what the future holds, but Dabo needs to catch up on the times, I know one thing he don't like is the transfer portal

[@77bronc14]

@@colinthomas867 When I was typing Kirby, I was thinking there was a big name alumni coach out there, but could not think who, so I agree with you.

[@Proudmule1]

Nice story.

[@cavalierfan2008]

It was a safety though

[@battles423]

Scott Frost is available……Nebraska just fired him.

[@dashcamcalifornia5003]

The reason why these guys would do it for free or get paid so low is because it would screw up whatever buyout contract they've agreed to so do not feel bad for them for getting paid so little they are very very wealthy

[@harryvarner6652]

Gee, I feel so sorry for these ex head coaches wo made millions.

[@cm1133]

All these coaches whining about how bad it felt to be fired. It’s all BS. Get fired in the real world with a family at home with no multi million dollar buyout check in your hand! Then, and only then, come to me and tell me how bad being fired feels!

[@supercheese7033]

Losing a $15 starbucks barista job doesn't compare to losing a $4mil/year coaching job. Sorry, you get no welfare credit from us.

[@davidlewis2668]

Getting canned or laid off sucks but the suckage is mitigated by a contract buyout that could be millions of dollars for many a canned coach. I got zero sympathy for these guys. At least Saban steps up to help his friends and colleagues. PS, nobody will even talk to you or much less hire you if your over 60.

[@JK-gu3tl]

USC still did Kiffin dirty.

[@PrivateSmiles]

Bill O'Brien is like trying to rehab Demi Lovato. He's terrible.

[@davidhardy7421]

Cute story but the underlining factor is they all have massive buyouts. They literally get to clean up some things while collecting monies from past schools. Saban literally pays his coaches bottom dollar.

[@bamajesse4608]

No. Alabama’s assistant coaches are the highest paid in college football. Clueless

[@iluvdissheet]

What are you talking about? Kiffin was toxic....they were nice to not bring up what he did to Tennessee. By the time he left, kiffin was paid 1.4M as OC.

[@Famijoly]

@@iluvdissheet Much less what did with the Oakland Raiders.

[@iluvdissheet]

@@Famijoly ok. And as an Alabama fan, it's my duty to say Saban didn't have a great NFL coaching experience either. Mistakes happen.

[@oasisnole]

Take out the 2 years he has Jameis…he’s so mediocre!

[@cesar.hcr.55]

O'brien has been the worst hire! He needs to go.

[@TheBg29st]

How? Did he not get us to the NC? Did he not have a heisman Qb? Did he not have two 1000yd receivers?

[@Rageousss]

If you truly don’t see the issue at hand you don’t understand the sport

[@BrutallyHonest-]

Yeah getting fired sucks, but you guys make millions of dollars a year, how is that “your lowest point”? Maybe emotionally but you’ve still won 😂

[@TheBg29st]

You think millionaires don’t get depressed?

[@MashiroRedo]

Money doesn’t buy happiness

[@Jayfreshman]

We need to stop hiring fired snd failed coaches! Lane Kiffin was the ONLY exception. Nick fired Kiffin, because of it we lost that natty. Bill Obrien is a terrible coordinator here, and needs to be shown the door just like Pete Golding!

[@77bronc14]

At first I did not like Kiffin, but I do like him now, with he was at my LSU Tigers as the HC

[@michealtorres8598]

Bamas overrated. Like i said last yr its not the same bama from old.

[@richiemoore2127]

All teams are over rated get off Bama they got more rings then any of other teams

[@michealtorres8598]

@@richiemoore2127 just sayin. My Dawgs are gonna eat in the backfield....again. go dawgs.

[@richiemoore2127]

@@michealtorres8598 good luck we gone see cause we always end up in championship

[@kesselrunheroj8497]

@@richiemoore2127 All teams are not over rated, some teams are under rated

[@Gravel22Gaming]

@@michealtorres8598 With the headcoach that came from Bama University? I'm happy Georgia won in 2021; they deserved it. But knocking Bama doesn't do anything productive. Saban is objectively the best college football coach ever.