Nick Saban 'proud' of Alabama's performance against Ole Miss

The crisis is over in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama Crimson Tide is back in the win column. It was a ranked win against Ole Miss on the road, as Nick Saban has another victory over a former assistant. While there might have not been national championship implications on the line, both teams desperately wanted the win.

Emotion was on the face of Saban once the game was decided, something we do not usually see. You could tell this one meant something to him and he explained so during his postgame interview with CBS. Saban said he’s “so proud” of his players for putting in an impressive performance in the second half.

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“Our guys really competed in this game,” Saban said. “They really played hard in the second half. I mean, we really stubbed our toe in the first half. Just kept playing the next play. That’s the kind of identity we really want to establish in the program. I’m so proud of these players for what they did tonight. Ole Miss played a really good game.”

It’s no surprise Saban was quick to compliment the way Ole Miss played. He and Lane Kiffin have a lot of respect for one another, as both have publically gone out of their way to complement each other’s programs.

Even still, Nick Saban is a competitor and wants to win every football game he place. Saban has done exactly that against Kiffin while at Ole Miss, now sitting at 3-0. While the Rebels seem like they are close to competing in the SEC West, there is still a hurdle to overcome sitting in Tuscaloosa.

It’s a short trip home for Saban but the plane ride will feel like a good one. It’s not very often we see him celebrate the way he did. This one was something special for him.