Rich Rodriguez Says College Football History Got To Witness 6 Championships As He Passed on Alabama

Very few names in college football are as prominent as Nick Saban. Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, Saban led the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2007 to 2023. During his legendary run, he brought home six national championships and nine SEC titles.

But here’s a fun piece of football history many fans don’t know—before Saban got the job, Alabama first offered it to Rich Rodriguez. Just imagine if he had accepted the role. Could he have built the same winning legacy as Saban? No one will ever really know.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has humorously taken credit, joking that Alabama should give him those six titles.

Rich Rodriguez Reflects on the Coaching Decision That Changed Everything

Rodriguez, the current head coach of West Virginia University, recently reflected on a pivotal moment in his career when he turned down the opportunity to coach Alabama in 2006. 

“Where’s my trophy in Tuscaloosa? Where’s my statue outside there? Because if I had gone there you probably wouldn’t have those six national championships.”@WVUfootball head coach Rich Rodriguez spoke w/ @JoshPateCFB about being in running for the Alabama job back in 2006 pic.twitter.com/8zaLMCduSR

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) April 30, 2025

At the time, Alabama was searching for a replacement for head coach Mike Shula, and Rodriguez was one of their top choices due to his success at West Virginia, where he had led the team to multiple Big East championships and New Year’s Six bowl wins.

The veteran coach ultimately decided to stay at West Virginia, a decision that changed the course of college football history. Alabama then hired Saban in 2007, who went on to lead the Crimson Tide to six national championships, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Rodriguez had some fun reflecting on what could have been. With a smile, he joked, “Where’s my trophy in Tuscaloosa? Where’s my statue out there? Because if I had gone there, you probably wouldn’t have those six national championships.”

It was a lighthearted moment, but it showed just how one decision can change everything. Rodriguez continued, “That’s what’s so interesting about my journey. One choice can affect different programs. That’s the nature of this sport. It’s the life we live. I’ve also learned from it, too.”

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Saban, of course, went on to lead Alabama to six national titles before retiring after the 2023 season. He’s now sharing his football wisdom as an ESPN College GameDay analyst. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is back at West Virginia, beginning his second stint as the Mountaineers’ head coach, hoping to lead his team to success once again.