Nick Saban made a joke about himself on GameDay. He said an Alabama Crimson Tide football coach played the now Ohio State quarterback, Julian Sayin, on the Alabama scout team for a year. Saban was talking about himself when he called that coach a "dumbass."
Saban was wrong about Sayin. The 2024 Alabama signee was with the Crimson Tide for about a month as an early enrollee. Sayin practiced with the team during post-season prep. Sayin quickly transferred after Saban's retirement. He did not come close to playing on Alabama's scout team for a season.
Nick Saban, at 74 is no oldster
Nick Saban turned 74 on Halloween. What happened on GameDay can be called a 'Senior Moment,' but it was no indication of the GOAT's acuity slipping. He has literally coached thousands of football players. Getting a detail slightly mixed up about one means next to nothing.
It is possible that Saban meant he had Ty Simpson on a scout team, and now, with Simpson as a Heisman favorite, clearly, he (Saban) misread Simpson's potential.
Quick social media responses included a general theme that Nick Saban was 'losing it', meaning his mind. That is, of course, nonsense. Years before Paul 'Bear' Bryant won his last national championship, he often could not remember the names of current players. Purportedly, he once berated then assistant coach Mal Moore for not subbing in a player Bryant had demanded. The player has not been on the roster for a few years. Despite those mental hiccups, Bryant was an outstanding coach, as Nick Saban would be now, if he decided to return to coaching.
What is likely true is that LSU has already put $15M-plus (per season) on the table for Nick Saban. Some LSU insiders have rumored the amount to be $20M. Many Alabama Crimson Tide fans would be disappointed if Saban accepted such an offer. They, and every other Alabama fan, would not doubt that Nick Saban's mind would be up to the task.