Nick Saban seems to be getting more relaxed and less intense since stepping down as head coach. The GOAT of college football has been giving some lighthearted and genuinely heartfelt interviews that are quickly taking over the internet.

A recent instance of this was when Saban reconnected with a former quarterback who left his program for West Virginia. If you guessed Pat White, the former NFL quarterback, you’d be right! And their conversation was pure gold.

On August 30th, the Pat McAfee Show featured some big names from the sports world, including Saban and White—though Saban attended virtually. White didn’t let his former coach off easy, bringing up his days when he initially committed to Saban’s LSU team in the early 2000s. The GOAT wittily responded, “I damn sure recall that you were committed to us.”

However, Pat White never got to play under Saban even though the HC was after this star prospect in 2004. White chose to go to West Virginia instead. The reason- that White thought he would not be able to play as QB and would be moved to a different position. On the show, Saban clarified, “I would’ve never moved you from quarterback… I never made anybody in our program ever play something they didn’t want to play.”

But Saban didn’t stop there. He added with a chuckle, “Now, you would’ve never believed me then, but I got no reason now. I’m just this old guy that goes fishing every now and then, so I’m telling you the truth.” It’s clear Saban saw White’s worth as a quarterback and definitely didn’t want him in any other position. 

But after the GOAT’s sharp yet humorous reply, the former QB found himself as the internet’s troll material.

Nick Saban’s response sparks LOL moments

The internet is loving the throwback moments with Nick Saban, showing a lighter side of the legendary coach. One user even said, “This is pure gold” resonating the entire feelings of the internet. Another praised Saban’s genuineness, asking, “WOW! Dedication. How did you do this, coach? @sabanfaux.” Well, he did let a player like Pat White go, which turned out to be quite a story.

Pat White, who left Saban’s program for West Virginia, has become a bit of a laughing stock online. Although White had a decent college career at WVU, he was drafted way back in the second round as the 44th pick in the NFL. And the jokes on his stint just kept coming. One user commented, “Yeah, Saban would’ve moved him, lol,” while another added, “Saban wouldn’t move him. He would have never recruited him to begin with, lol.”

Despite the laughs, White did have a 65% pass completion rate and became a notable name in Big East history. However, his NFL career didn’t go as well. He suffered an early injury with the Miami Dolphins, sidelining him for a massive chunk of time. Noting that another user sarcastically remarked, “Pat White, who got blown up on the sideline as a Dolphin?”

While the internet had a good laugh, it seems the reunion on the Pat McAfee Show was worth it. Saban and White might not have rocked the field together, but they sure did rock the show!