An endorsement from Nick Saban goes a long way in these parts.

Not that James Spann needs one.

The well-known meteorologist for ABC 33/40 had his name dropped when the former coach was telling reporters he has been traveling recently.

He always contacts Spann when he hits the road or the links, apparently.

“I call James Spann and say, ‘What’s the weather look like in Dallas? Because we are flying over there today, and I don’t want to get into any thunderstorms.’ He’s always right on, so I appreciate that.”

When reached about the high praise, Spann shared that Saban, 72, is quite the weather enthusiast.

“The one cool thing about coach Saban is he’s really a weather guy,” Spann told AL.com. “I mean he loves weather. If you are going to be a college football coach, you are going to have to know a lot about it. It’s kind of like being a pilot.

“He really has a good basic knowledge of science, and he understands the limitations of what we can do and what we can’t do. … I like people like that because he totally understands what we are trying to communicate.”

Spann works closely with the University of Alabama, and its coaches when it comes to conditions for games, travel and more.

“Normally, for (basketball) coach (Nate) Oats, it is travel,” he explained. “They play indoors, so basketball is mostly flying in and out of places.

“But coach Saban, it is everything from travel to football to anything else.”

But is Spann always right with his forecast as Saban indicated?

“He’s being too kind,” the meteorologist said.

Spann explained Saban understands the limitations of what forecasts are.

“We can’t tell people exactly when and where it will rain at 4 in the afternoon at 7 a.m. in the morning on a July day or August day,” he said. “So, we give him probabilities in certain zones and where the better chances of rain will be. And he knows how to use it, and I love that about him.”

In fact, Spann said Saban is a bit of a weather guy.

“What I want to do is to get him on the green wall with me one night and let people see him how good he is,” he said. “I do his radio show, ‘Hey Coach,’ with him once a year, and I love talking with coach about weather. He loves weather.

“He promised me he’s going to do that green wall with me one day. I think he’ll be great.”

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.