Nick Saban sends touching message to media members

Longtime Alabama head coach Nick Saban has a history of going on rants during press conferences. More times than not, he is not a fan of certain questions and has no problem putting a reporter on blast in front of everyone else in the room.

While the Crimson Tide’s head man has that history, he did something different on Saturday following Alabama’s SEC championship win over Georgia – shockingly thanking the media members in attendance for the job they do instead of getting upset over a question.

“I’d like to thank the media for all the interest that you create in college football and college football players,” Saban said during his postgame press conference. “These guys work hard. I know I had a little rant a couple weeks ago about how hard these guys work and they’re student-athletes and they have homework and have to go to class.

“But what you do to bring attention to what they accomplish and what they do, I think is really appreciated. I want you to know we appreciate it more than you probably realize. Thank you.”

Alabama’s win over No. 1 ranked Georgia gave the Tide back-to-back SEC championships and will put them ahead of the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff top-four, which will be announced during the CFP selection show at noon ET Sunday on ESPN.

Alabama Crimson Tide athletics makes history on Saturday

Saturday was a pretty good day for Alabama’s athletics department. While Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide football team upset No. 1 ranked Georgia in the SEC championship game, Nate Oats and the Tide’s basketball squad beat No. 3 Gonzaga – making Alabama the first school to beat Associated Press top-five teams on the same day.

Alabama football’s 41-24 win over Georgia spoiled the Bulldogs’ undefeated season and could put the Crimson Tide at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff. Alabama basketball’s 91-82 victory over Gonzaga moved the Tide to 7-1 on the season.

While Alabama is a lock for the College Football Playoff top-four, it’s just a matter of where it’ll be ranked and what semifinal it’ll play in – and that will be announced during the CFP selection show at noon ET Sunday. As for the hoops squad, the Tide will continue face tough teams as they host Houston and play at Memphis over the next two weeks.