Nick Saban is and is not an external factor for Alabama football players

Alabama football players learned something new this week. They learned some things said by Nick Saban can be ignored. The former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach has been well utilized by ESPN and the SEC Network during SEC Media Days.

Saban is bringing his standard level of preparation and attention to detail to his new profession as a media analyst. It is no surprise that Saban is very good at his new job.

How he shapes his public opinions of Alabama Football will be interesting to follow in the 2024 season. Already an opinion Saban shared at the start of the week gained nationwide attention. The Alabama Crimson Tide legend predicted Georgia and Texas would meet in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.

On Wednesday, the Crimson Tide's three players Media Days representatives were asked about Saban's prediction. Malachi Moore was quick to point out that his former coach was just doing his job. Moore also said about the prediction, "I don't deal in hypotheticals. He taught me that so he (Saban) would be glad to hear me say that."

Tyler Booker's response will get the most notice. The Crimson Tide team leader said, "He would get mad at me if I felt a way about what he said because he always used to say, 'Don't let some guy that lives in his mom's basement determine how you feel,' so I'm not gonna let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel."

Booker labeled Saban's comment an "external factor" and Nick Saban's repeated lesson about not being influenced by what cannot be controlled is something his players learned well. No doubt, none of them ever imagined Nick Saban being one of those external factors.

Jalen Milroe commented, "Still love coach," he added. "That's my guy. He's the same guy I hugged at after the Iron Bowl. Ain't nothing going to change there."

After making his pick of Georgia and Texas, Saban explained "I believe in our Alabama team, too... I just think the question marks in the secondary — until those get resolved — it's hard to, sort of, jump on that bandwagon."

Alabama football fans are wondering if Saban, as part of the ESPN Gameday crew will ever not pick Alabama. Saban provided a hint, saying "I don't know that you always have to pick the team that you think is gonna win. You're allowed to have a spiritual feeling about who you like and who you want to win."