It is tradition for Nick Saban’s teams to take in a movie the night before a game.

On Saturday, during an appearance on ESPN’s “GameDay,” the Alabama coach was asked what flick his team took in before the No. 3 Tide take on No. 11 Texas in Tuscaloosa.

Denzel Washington’s “Equalizer 3″ was the movie of choice. ESPN’s Rece Davis asked Saban if he uses a movie to relax his team or send a message.

“It can be either one, but more the ‘Equalizer’ was used to relax them. There was a little tension in the movie, I must admit,” Saban said with a smile.

Saban said he loved the movie.

The “Equalizer 3″ follows Robert McCall (Washington), who have given up his life as a government assassin, who finds solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Now living in Southern Italy, he soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.