It isn’t often that opposing coaches give recommendations to each other when it comes to filling out their staff.
Especially when the conversation is between two men who represent the most heated rivalry in college football.
Last week, it was reported by ESPN that Alabama has hired Liberty analyst Robert Bala to be the team’s new inside linebackers coach after Austin Armstrong quickly moved on to Florida. But prior to his hiring, Nick Saban actually reached out to former Liberty now-turned-Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze to learn about Bala.
Freeze discussed his conversation with Saban during an appearance on ‘Mac and Cube’ on WJOX where he told Saban that he should bring Bala in for an interview.
“Obviously Nick and I are friends, and I know it’s hard for a lot of people to believe,” Freeze said. “When Nick called me, I just said, ‘I think he’s really, really good and you ought to interview him.’ Evidently, he did. I haven’t talked to Nick since he interviewed him. But evidently, he did well.”
Later on, Freeze shared his reaction to the hiring.
“I’m jealous Nick got him.”
As Freeze mentioned earlier, it’s difficult for either of these fanbases to believe that the two are friends but is still more than willing to give a recommendation to one of his bright hires from his previous stop.
Even if helps out Alabama.
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