TUSCALOOSA -- The UA System Board of Trustees are expected to
approve a resolution this week requesting approval from the University
of Alabama to erect a sculpture of Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban outside Bryant-Denny Stadium.</p>
Work on Saban's statue, which will make him the school's fifth
national championship coach to be so honored, began soon after
Alabama's 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS national championship
game.</p>
UA is planning to mount and unveil the statue on its "Walk of
Champions" between Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, two to three weeks before
Alabama's 2010 season opener against San Jose State, according to a UA
memo to be presented to trustees. </p>
Saban's statue will be a 150-percent life-size, bronze rendering of
Saban on a granite pedestal of India red fine grain, per UA documents
presented to trustees. The setup is similar to existing statues of
former Crimson Tide coaches Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Paul "Bear" Bryant and Gene Stallings.</p>
MTM Recognition was hired to take on the project, and final
revisions are due Friday, according to UA. No final price is yet
available, but the project costs an estimated $50,000, the Tuscaloosa
News has reported. It will be funded by the Crimson Tide Foundation.
The school has asked the item go before the Honorary Degrees and
Recognition Committees of the UA System at Thursday's meeting.</p>
Trustees will also be asked to approve a plaque on the north
entrance plaza of the stadium commemorating the 2009 national title.</p>