“It’s great to be wanted,” Nick Saban said when he first arrived in Tuscaloosa decades ago. Well, those words came after he was greeted by thousands of cheering fans who came out to welcome their new coach. Fast forward over 17 years, and Saban has certainly made his mark at Alabama. With six national championships and countless legendary players, he has earned every bit of honor in his name.

That honor reached a peak on September 7th when Alabama decided to officially name the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium “Saban Field.” It was a day filled with nostalgia and memories, but one moment stood out above the rest. 

Sixteen years ago, on Saban’s 57th birthday, a 5-year-old girl named Aly Kate gave him a handmade, pink birthday card. In fact, that was the day, his team, the Crimson Tide, played against Arkansas and won 35-0. 

After that, a man announced that Saban would sign autographs for about 25 people. And little Aly Kate, with a sweet innocence, ran up to Saban, handed him the card, and asked him to keep it. She even added, “I have a cat named Saban,” bringing a rare smile to the coach’s face. Saban even hugged her, took a pic, and went on his way.

Fast forward to today, and Aly Kate is now a member of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, which played during the Nick Saban Field naming ceremony. Well, that’s what we call a full-circle moment! The Saban family and everyone in attendance were thrilled to witness such a touching piece of history that day. 

Nick Saban’s fitting tribute day

Bryant-Denny Stadium now has a field named after Nick Saban, and Alabama made sure it was a big day to celebrate. The special event on September 7th was part of their pre-game ceremony, as the Crimson Tide hosted South Florida. Sure, Alabama won the game 42-16, but the stuff that happened before the kickoff was even more memorable.

As Nick and Terry Saban walked across the field, nostalgia filled the air. The field, once home to the iconic “Walk of Champions,” now bore Saban’s name on it. The Million Dollar Band, featuring Aly Kate, added to the vibes with their performance. Nick Saban soon expressed his gratitude to Alabama and added, “I want this legacy to represent every player who played, who worked hard, every coach who helped those players develop.” 

Later, Terry Saban also had her moment to speak. She started with a laugh about how fans “named their dog Saban. And we realize this is really a cut above that.” Well, all we know is how Aly Kate once had a cat named Saban. And it all shows just how much Tuscaloosa loves their GOAT coach.