Nick Saban got a shot with the NFL in 2013, and it came with the same “catch the ball” motto he was known for.
That same year, he was named Alabama’s head coach.
The Crimson Tide, of course, went on to win the 2013 national championship.
Saban is now the longest-tenured head coach in college football.
His Alabama teams have won 10 national championships, including six in the last seven years.
But this past week, Saban’s Crimson Tide team will host the University of Miami.
The game will be the first game in the 2017 College Football Playoff.
The Hurricanes will be coached by Miami head coach Al Golden.
Saban and Golden both played at Miami.
He was the Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator for five seasons, from 2010-11.
Golden is one of only five men to lead a program to 10 national titles in college basketball history.
It’s a pretty cool job.
I’m looking forward to playing for Al Golden, who has been an incredible coach.
Nick Saban (left) and Al Golden have played in the NFL together twice.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Al Golden will lead Alabama to the College Football Playoffs.
The two are the only men to have coached in both the SEC and the ACC.
Golden’s teams have the longest winning percentage in the modern era of college football at 60 percent.
The two-time national champion Alabama team is one reason Golden has been able to keep Saban around.
Golden will inherit a talented roster and a loaded offensive line.
His teams have a whopping 20 players ranked in the top 100 in the 2015 NFL draft, which could help Alabama in 2017.
But the question will be how much Golden can improve on the current roster, and who is the best recruiter for Saban.
Alabama’s biggest problem will be replacing a talented, but aging, roster, as well as the offense that has struggled mightily.
Golden was at the helm for four seasons at Miami, and the Hurricanes lost in the Rose Bowl for the third time in four years.
Golden has said that he expects to improve the offensive line, which will be in need of an upgrade.
Saban’s last head coaching job was at USC.
Saban had one of the best offenses in college sports for the Trojans.
He went 17-4 in his first season at USC, but the Troijas finished 2-8 the next season.
Saban led the Trojeas to three bowl games and a trip to the national championship game in his second season.
The Trojas have been coached by the man who will be making his second head coaching hire in as many years, Golden.
Golden won two championships with USC, and will be able to coach the Hurricanes for years to come.
If Saban wants to get the best out of his players, Golden needs to find a way to make the offense work.
Golden did it at USC and Florida State.
He has also had success at Florida and Michigan State.
There’s no question that Golden has the experience and the coaching chops to help the Crimson Tide in 2017, but how much of that will be a product of Golden and how much will be an extension of Saban’s personality and his style of play will likely depend on the coaches.
What do you think?
Do you like Nick Saban?
Do I like him?