Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back when asked about Nick Saban’s growing role in college football’s political fight.
Saban has been pushing the Protect College Sports Act, and Finebaum made it clear on Mad Dog Sports Radio that he doesn’t think the former Alabama and LSU coach should be the face of that conversation.
"He's 74 years old and he's thinking like somebody who remembers the way it was when he dominated," said Finebaum. He further noted, "[Saban] does not like the way the game is."
Finebaum’s bigger point was about who should be representing the sport right now. Even while allowing that Saban "might be Donald Trump's emissary", he argued that college football needs voices closer to the players themselves.
In his view, the game should be led by "younger people representing the 18 and 19 year olds, not a 74 year old man."
Finebaum also pointed to Georgia coach Kirby Smart as someone who has adjusted well to the current era. But he drew a sharp contrast when talking about Saban, saying, "I love Saban, but he douns like the 'get off your lawn' guy," maintained Finebaum. "He is not a great representative of where college football is when he hang around with all these other billionaires and doesn't pay homage to the 18 year old who is making this game go today."
Saban’s credentials are beyond dispute. He finished his college coaching career with a 292-71-1 record, including a 199-23 mark at Alabama after that first 6-6 season that came with NCAA probation. He also won six national championships with the Crimson Tide, adding to the one he captured at LSU before a short and ill-fated run with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
After retiring following the 2023 season, Saban quickly turned into a prominent ESPN voice. His mix of authority and plainspoken insight has earned him plenty of supporters. But as Finebaum’s comments showed, his influence on the future of the sport is also drawing resistance, even from people who respect everything he accomplished on the field.
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