He has covered many college football teams and head coaches for ESPN, but there is something different about Nick Saban for Kirk Herbstreit.

RELATED: Kirk Herbstreit says he’s ‘1000 percent’ behind Mac Jones, calls him a Pro Bowl caliber QB

The mainstay of College GameDay highly respects the Alabama head coach. Some media pundits cannot stand Saban, but Herbstreit sees value and more than X's and O's. In an interview with Roger Hoover of Crimson Tide Sports Network, Herbstreit detailed what draws him to Saban. He considers the 71-year-old a friend, a mentor, and someone to talk to if he has an issue.

"He's probably my favorite coach that I've ever covered." - @KirkHerbstreit on @AlabamaFTBL head coach Nick Saban."

Full Interview on Thursday's Crimson Drive, driven by @NASCAR at 2 pm on @UA_CTSN: https://t.co/PD5KP5uzYw pic.twitter.com/2O4ZaeXNRg

— Roger Hoover (@Roger_Hoover) June 27, 2023

"He has always been a teacher and someone I admire," Herbstreit said about Saban.

"I am an old-school disciplinarian, so I am drawn to him. Fans, they are Alabama fans, they see him at the press conference and he's standing there, but I see him so differently. I see him as someone I can talk to. If I am having an issue in my life, he is probably one of the first people I would call because of how much his words mean to me. He is not going to tell you what you want to hear. He is going to tell you what he thinks. I'm a big believer in wisdom, and leaning on people like Nick Saban for guidance and advice because they have been through so much in life. So, there is Nick Saban the coach that we all bow down to. Then, there is Nick Saban the man that I am a big fan of. He is probably my favorite coach that I've ever had the chance to cover."

RELATED: Kirk Herbstreit tells Pat McAfee not to count Alabama out and can “win it all”

Herbstreit is never one to doubt Saban when it comes to national championships; however, these words show how much he has grown to appreciate Saban as a coach and a person. Saban enters his 17th season for the Crimson Tide in the fall.

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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.