Alabama hasn’t played a game without Nick Saban on the sidelines. Still, Crimson Tide fans witnessed their first major SEC event in which Saban was merely a spectator. All eyes were on new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the top representative of Alabama football for their SEC Media Days session.
But Saban managed to make headlines still as he boldly and surprisingly predicted that the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns would meet in the highly anticipated 2024 SEC title game.
One of Alabama’s star linemen decided to clap back at Saban for excluding the Crimson Tide from his title game prediction.
Tyler Booker Responds to Nick Saban’s SEC Title Game Prediction
At SEC Media Days, Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Tyler Booker playfully jabbed at former head coach Nick Saban. Booker’s comments responded to Saban’s prediction that Texas and Georgia would compete for the SEC football championship. Booker decided to respond using a bit of Saban’s medicine against him.
“Coach Saban always taught me not to pay attention to external voices. He always said, ‘Don’t let some guy who lives in his mom’s basement determine how you feel’,” Booker said.
“So I’m not going to let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel.”
The hilarious quote received a roar of laughter from the crowded media room at Alabama’s SEC Media Days.
After Saban made the shocking prediction, the legendary coach also talked about his former program and why he would never count them out.
“I believe in our Alabama team, too,” Saban said. “And I believe in Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary, until those get resolved, it’s hard to sort of jump on that bandwagon.”
It’s hard to argue that anyone would have a better insight into the Crimson Tide’s strengths and weaknesses heading into 2024. It’s also apparent that Booker and Saban had a great relationship as player and coach, which is why Booker felt comfortable enough to throw a friendly jab at his former ball coach.
Booker was honest about his hurt and shock when Saban decided to retire following Alabama’s 2023 College Football Playoff loss to Michigan.
“I was hurt, obviously. That was my initial reaction,” Booker said on Bussin’ with the Boys regarding Saban’s retirement.
“I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I was expecting him to come in there and kind of rip us about the Michigan game. Not so much rip us, but be like, ‘Hey, this is why we lost, here’s how we’re going to correct it. Here’s how we’re going to get back there and get further.’ That’s what I was expecting, so for him to go up there and retire, it was really a shock to me.”
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