From the Sideline — LSU Fans Still Have Respect for Nick Saban

The two men dressed in LSU gear waited patiently.

They stood just behind the short wall separating the stands from the back of the end zone, as their former football coach - who had just beaten their favorite football team in unbelievable fashion - finished taping his television show.

Nick Saban acknowledged the two men before the show began, and then went over to shake their hands when he was done.

“How’s it going guys?”, Saban said.

“Doing good, Coach”, was the reply he received from one of them.

Up until this point, I thought the two men were among the many personal friends the Sabans made during their highly successful time in Baton Rouge.

But the few moments that followed made it evident that this may have been the first ever face-to-face meeting between the two young men and the man most believe is the best to ever roam the Tiger Stadium sidelines wearing purple – and is in the discussion for the best-ever on the opposing sideline, as well.

“Welcome home, Coach. We miss you.”, followed from one of the men.

The other LSU fan then shared the fact that he was a high school basketball coach, and that he applies many of the principles in his sport that Saban uses on the gridiron.

It was a warm, genuine moment from two men who I believe represent the majority of the LSU fan base (not the few thousand who chanted something during overtime that was over the edge – even for that place).

They appreciated what Saban had done in the past for their program. They wish he was still there. And they know that beating him will be a rare occurrence.

What I also noticed was that Saban seemed to genuinely appreciate their gesture.

LSU is a place that was as good to him, as he was to it. It still has special meaning to him – and it always will.

The win meant a lot to him on a Louisiana Saturday night. But so did the kind words from two men who may not be fans of Saban’s team, but were clearly still fans of his.