Much has been said about Nick Saban on the football field, referring to him as furious, calculating, and unrelenting. But thinking of him playing basketball is quite entertaining, as it takes a twist on the character most know him for. As they say, Saban’s love for basketball is clear, but he enjoys more football than the basketball’s manner of the game. But, it’s not often that you hear one of football’s coaching legends almost sign up for a basketball challenge.

Many sports fans are aware that Nick Saban owns the bench on the football field but there appears a little basketball in him after all, according to former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt. Earlier this week, Nutt shared a hilarious story in which Saban reacts to a basketball challenge, that left fans chuckling.

In Nutt’s words, he used to buzz Saban every spring. “Coach Saban, what do you think about a challenge? Like Alabama vs. Arkansas. I’m talking about noon basketball; I’ll bring my staff over. Let’s talk some football. I’d love to see what you got.” However, it looks like Saban was a bit reluctant to seize Nutt on that invitation of his. “He’s so kind, he smiled at it but didn’t ever follow through,” Nutt added with a laugh.

While the basketball game never materialized, Nutt’s staff at least got a small glimpse of what a Saban basketball game would be like. “Alex Mortensen, I had two GAs that went over there, and Alex was one of them. They kinda gave me a scouting report. They said they don’t quite have the physicality that we’d have,” Nutt shared, clearly amused at the thought. “Coach Saban might be calling a lot of fouls.”

“Nick Saban, he likes to play basketball too,” Nutt said, recalling discussions with him. “I don’t see him as much of a basketball player, but he says he loves it.” Before leaving for Miami, Nutt who faced Saban in the SEC, asked him to play basketball. It was a means of combining football conversation with a little basketball action – something Nutt discovered would be a good way of easing the tension.

Guess, we might never know how that unfolded. But what we know for sure is how well the teams that these legends coached are doing. Jalen Milroe is already giving Alabama a good season. Milroe has passed for 964 yards with 10 touchdowns and only one interception. He’s been more of a dual threat with his legs, after gaining 117 yards in their monumental victory over the Georgia team, and has been the key player in their perfect record at the moment.

On the side of Arkansas, KJ Jefferson has been doing very well. However, after having a couple of difficult games, Jefferson, Sanders, and Isaac helped Arkansas stay deceptively dangerous.

The basketball vibes behind Nick Saban’s legendary football persona

Saban, possessing seven national championships under his belt, is no stranger to coming into the game of football with a fine-tooth comb. He has developed strong programs, which include LSU and now Alabama by dint of hard work and smart practice. The idea of him channeling that same focus onto a basketball court, let alone just for a friendly inter-employee match, offers a rare glimpse of the legendary coach in a different light.

Houston Nutt himself has been a good coach, where he took a team that was struggling, Arkansas, to clinch two OVC championships in the period 1995-1996. Popular among fans for a spirited approach on the field and camaraderie with his squad, Nutt has never been coy about his admiration for Saban. That respect was even touched upon in proposing a small competition between the sports, everybody has a humorous bone in them as a sportsman.

Of course, Nutt and Saban do have SEC backgrounds, and as much as Nutt’s basketball betting did come through as a comedy skit, on-the-field battles between Alabama and Arkansas during their coaching tenures were hard fought. Nutt, who coached the Razorbacks from 1998 to 2007, faced Saban in some interesting capacity meetings of the SEC.

Saban’s tenure at Alabama has been characterized by so much success and he is easily ranked among the greatest in college football. So once again, that is why Nutt’s story demonstrates that even the most strategic and football-wise, individuals can still crack open the door for a bit of fun. Whether Saban was going to call too many fouls or make too many strategic plays is up for debate, but we can still picture him wanting control over every second – football game or basketball included.

In case you wish to explore concepts like NIL in detail, you can check out the latest episode of the Think Tank podcast.