Legends don’t just walk into the sunset and fade away—they leave a playbook behind. It’s been almost a year since the legendary Nick Saban broke our hearts and traded the sidelines for retirement. But his influence? Oh boy, it’s alive and kicking in Tuscaloosa and beyond. Case in point for ya: Alabama Crimson Roll Tide assistant coach JaMarcus Shephard channeling his inner Saban when asked about the team’s mindset heading into a showdown with Oklahoma Sooners. His response? Pure “Rat Poison” energy.

On November 21, when a reporter asked Alabama assistant coach, Shephard about prepping his squad for an off-beat 5-5 Oklahoma Sooners squad in an environment like Norman, who’s coming off their bye week, he didn’t hold back. “It’s never been about anybody else” Shephard shoots back a quick jab, “I mean, homecoming, senior day—that stuff doesn’t matter.” He then brought up the GOAT himself, saying, “The guy who used to be in this spot all the time used to say that rat poison…. you guys are trying to put into the heads of our kids and putting it online cuz you know they’re going to read it ……worried about the wrong things” Shots fired at the Media? Absolutely.

Sheperd’s comments show just how much Saban’s mindset has become a blueprint for Alabama football—even in his absence. It’s not just about the typical Xs and Os; it’s about mental discipline and BAMA mindset. With Sooners hosting this matchup in Norman and fresh off a bye week, distraction is in every corner of the street. But in classic Alabama fashion, Shephard is playing chess while everyone else is busy playing checkers.

Nick Saban’s “rat poison” legacy

Nick Saban may have retired, but his legendary phrase “rat poison” is still running the laps. Back in October 2017, after a tough-barely win at Texas A&M, Saban coined the term while scolding the media for hyping up his team too much. “I’m trying to get our players to listen to me instead of listening to you guys. All that stuff you write about how good we are… it’s like poison. Like rat poison,” he said. One thing the OG coach doesn’t like is; Glazing.

The phrase caught fire, becoming a mantra for blocking out all the distractions and outside noise. And it wasn’t just football. Even Alabama Basketball coach Nate Oats borrowed it, revealing that Saban DM’ed him about keeping a “next play” mentality during their March Madness. It’s the kind of wisdom that transcends sports—a simple yet powerful reminder to silence the noise and focus on the gridiron.

Saban’s “rat poison” lives on because it’s more than a catchy phrase you throw around in every convo. It’s a mindset, a rallying cry for keeping all 10 toes on the ground and avoiding the hype trap game. And as JaMarcus Shephard’s comments show, Alabama hasn’t skipped a beat since Nick Saban left. The process—the discipline, the focus, the culture—is still intact. Okay, let’s face it: Nick Saban might out be of the game and doing side quests like ESPN show and golfing, but his tactics? They are undefeated.