Nick Saban turned 75 on Halloween, and the moment gave College GameDay a chance to ask the former coach for the kind of advice that has carried him through 28 seasons of college football.
Saban didn’t dress it up. He kept it plain, the way he said he’s always tried to live.
“The one thing I learned growing up, which is nothing spectacular… treat other people like you would like to be treated,” Saban said. “My mother always told me, ‘God loves everyone.
Even the people you don’t like. So, be nice and kind to everyone!'”
That message fit the day, even if Saban’s teams rarely showed much kindness to opponents. Over his college coaching career, he went 297-71-1, and at Alabama he had at least one week ranked No. 1 in the country for 15 straight years from 2008-22.
Saban spent his birthday on the College GameDay set rather than on the sideline. Pat McAfee asked him for his “biggest piece of advice” to share with viewers, and Saban answered with the same simple philosophy that has been part of his life for years.
He also had a strange birthday record as a coach: he played on Halloween just twice and won both games by a combined score of 70-5.
The two programs where Saban won national championships, Alabama and LSU, are set to meet Nov. 7 in a game with major College Football Playoff ramifications. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
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