Nick Saban: Draft preparation was 'almost as if you were in the NFL'

For the first time in 15 years, Nick Saban found himself working on NFL Draft night. Only this time, he wasn’t in a war room in Miami, but on set with College GameDay – and he drew rave reviews.

When it came time for the former Alabama coach to make his ESPN debut, though, it felt very familiar as he went through the film.

“It’s a lot of preparation,” Saban said ahead of the Irondale Prayer Breakfast. “You’ve got to watch probably 200 players to be able to go up there and do the first three rounds. A lot of research, background information. Almost as if you were in the NFL getting ready for the draft, which I spent eight years doing.”

The first round of the draft marked the beginning of Saban’s next chapter after a 50-year coaching career, including the last 15 at Alabama. He also spent three stints in the NFL as the Houston Oilers’ defensive backs coach, the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick and his lone head coaching opportunity with the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06.

In 2007, Saban returned to the college ranks, where he won a national championship as the head coach at LSU, and put together a historic run. During his time at Alabama, he won six national championships and amassed a 206-29 overall record before announcing his retirement in January.

Even after retiring, Saban will still find himself working on Saturdays on GameDay alongside Rece Davis, Desmond Howard and Kirk Herbstreit. His first go-round was impressive – and he summed it up in true Nick Saban fashion.

“It gave me something to do,” he said. “It kept me busy and it was fun to be a part of that team.”

Throughout the broadcast, fans saw a different side of Saban. Instead of the all-business, straight-faced head coach they saw at the podium for the last 15 years in Tuscaloosa, he was having fun. He smiled, he joked and most importantly, he was insightful after doing so much research – which isn’t at all surprising.

Those watching on TV had plenty of praise for Saban’s first draft on the desk. So did his co-hosts.

“I thought he was sensational,” Davis said. “He was so prepared, which comes as no surprise to you guys or to anyone else. He had studied tape, he had read stuff on guys, he had talked to general managers, he talked to coaches. He knew the stuff, inside out.”