Mrs. Terry Says Foundation’s Work Will Continue in Farewell Post to Alabama

In what certainly seemed to be a farewell to the Yellowhammer State, Mrs. Terry Saban, the beloved first lady of Alabama football, said the work of her philanthropic foundation will continue.

Mrs. Terry's husband Nick told players Wednesday that he would retire as the head football coach after 17 years - an inevitability that still rocked the football world as the basically undisputed greatest of all time hangs it up.

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The Sabans founded their Nick's Kids Foundation not at Alabama but at Michigan State in 1998, but it has been here in Tuscaloosa where the charity's impact has been most felt. The Foundation is behind efforts like the Mason's Place all-inclusive playground at Sokol Park and the still-being-designed Saban Center in downtown Tuscaloosa.

They have also built 19 Habitat for Humanity homes here in Alberta and West Tuscaloosa.

Mrs. Terry took to Facebook Tuesday to say their work will continue, even if the Sabans chose to reside somewhere other than Alabama.

“It has been an incredible run these last 17 years at the University of Alabama and we take with us many amazing memories. We hope that the Saban legacy will be about helping others and making a positive difference in people's lives as well as the winning tradition on the field," she said. "Our Nick's Kids Foundation will continue to help children, student, and teacher causes in the State of Alabama. The rules for the game of football may change, but the ‘process’ will never go out of style: hard work, discipline, the relentless pursuit of a worthy goal, not cutting corners, and doing things the right way for the sake of constant personal improvement, not for the scoreboard. Alabama will always feel like 'Sweet Home' to our family, and we'll be cheering ‘Roll Tide’!”