Nick Saban is getting some well-deserved recognition from Alabama. The Crimson Tide just can’t get over his incredible 103-9 record, 6 national championships, and 9 SEC titles. So, what better way to show some love to the man than putting his name on a playing field? Yep, they made this bold move last month, announcing it during SEC media days in mid-July.

Saban called it a “special honor” when he attended the virtual announcement with his wife, Terry. Now, the University has planned an official ceremony for September 7th to celebrate this milestone. But even before that, tech is catching up—maps are already showing “Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.”

On August 12th, Saban’s daughter, Kristen Saban, shared a sweet moment, celebrating the name change. She posted a screenshot where “Saban Field” appears as “Dad” in her account, flexing it on her IG story with the caption, “Peep that name change on the map.” 

Now, if you just head over to 920 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL, you’ll see the stadium name showcasing three legends. Paul “Bear” Bryant, who was the Crimson Tide’s head coach in 1975, and George H. Denny, the University’s president in the 1930s, have their names honored there too. Now, Saban also joins them. 

The university’s trustees said it wasn’t just Saban’s stats that earned him this honor. It’s all he’s done for Tuscaloosa over the years. The Saban Center downtown, his charity for kids, and his family’s involvement in the community – it’s all part of his legacy.

While this honor is well-deserved, some people are worried it might backfire. 

Is it too soon for a “Nick Saban” field?

A lot of folks think Alabama made the right call honoring Coach Saban by naming the field after him. But not everyone’s on board though. CFB expert, Joshua Perry, isn’t happy about it. He said straight up, “I don’t like it right now.” He thinks it’s too soon since Saban just retired in January. Plus, the recent SEC Media Day felt more like a “Saban memorial” than anything else, with everyone singing his praises.

Now, Perry’s trying to shine a spotlight on the new coach, Kalen DeBoer, who seems to be getting lost in the Saban shuffle. He thinks DeBoer might not be too thrilled about all the Saban hype, especially in his first year. “If I’m Kalen DeBoer, I don’t like very much of this,” Perry said. “Like, dude, this is my first year, and it feels like there’s too much Saban around.”

Well, it’s too early to say if this will really hurt DeBoer’s sentiments now. But it doesn’t help that Saban’s sticking around with his own office in the stadium. DeBoer’s already got big shoes to fill, and now he’s got Saban’s name on the field. We’ll have to wait and see how he handles this one.