Nick Saban was not a fan of how Alabama football players acted after losing to Michigan in the College Football Playoff in January.
The Wolverines defeated the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl in overtime to move on to the National Championship. Saban told ESPN the way Tide players reacted to the loss in the locker room was among some of the things that contributed to his decision to retire.
“I want to be clear that wasn’t the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed,” Saban said. “I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the game. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with class. We had our opportunities to win the game and we didn’t do it, and then showing your ass and being frustrated and throwing helmets and doing that stuff … that’s not who we are and what we’ve promoted in our program.”
Saban went on to talk about some of the conversations he had with players back in Tuscaloosa.
“I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?” said Saban. “Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.
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