Deana Smith of Rainbow City sat in disbelief at Jefferson’s in Rainbow City, watching coverage on ESPN of Nick Saban’s retirement.

“I thought he would wait one more year,” she said, as she and several people drank beers at the bar and glanced up at the television.

Only a few moments before, the news of Saban’s retirement came from the screen to the stunned patrons at the bar.

Smith sent three kids to the University of Alabama, and has a granddaughter currently attending.

A grandson is named for Erik Anders, a member of Saban’s first national championship team at Alabama and a hero of the national championship game. She has “Alabama all through her house.”

“Next to Coach Bear, he’s the greatest coach ever,” she said. “And I hate to lose him. I feel like now, we’re gonna go down hill.”

Smith said Saban was respected because he taught football, as well as “priorities for life.”

Lisa Beggs of Southside sat a few stools away at the bar, still shaking her head.

“I didn’t like hearing it,” she said. “I guess he’s ready to do what he needs to do, and life goes on.”

At Buffalo Wild Wings in Gadsden, Blake McGuffie of Moody sat with his phone, answering text messages from stunned fans. Over his shoulder, a portrait of Bear Bryant stared out over the dining room.

A few moments before, he had finished a conversation with his father, an Auburn fan. His smile was evident even over the phone he said.

“I could just tell he was grinning from ear to ear,” he said.

As news broke, McGuffie said patrons throughout the restaurant began pulling out their phones to check the news. He had his suspicions that Saban might be retiring, but the news still stunned.

“I thought since we lost (to Michigan in the Rose Bowl), he might come back,” he said. “I just hope it’s not (Lane) Kiffin (as his replacement.)”

He shook his head, looking up at the TV. “Seventeen years,” he said. “It’s gonna be weird.”

At Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux in Trussville, the news started as a crawl across the bottom of the screen on ESPN just after 4 p.m.

At 4:21 p.m., Duane Killough of Odenville sent his daughter, a law school graduate of the University of Alabama, attorney in Huntsville and former member of the Million Dollar Band, a text informing her of the bad news.

“I don’t like it,” Killough said. “It sucks, is what it does.”

Soon, all the screens in the sports bar were full of the news, and it was met with grim, begrudging acceptance.

Killough said even his daughter doesn’t realize that Alabama football had lean years before Saban. He winces as he mentions predecessors such as Mike Shula and Mike DuBose.

“I hope he has second thoughts,” Killough said of Saban, who is 72.

ESPN began running segments on Saban’s legacy, his national championships, SEC titles and unparalleled success in college football.

“I know his legacy,” Killough said. “I don’t have to hear about it for four days.”

A few feet away, Allan Sloan of Trussville reflected on being lucky enough to watch the career of Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Saban.

“I experienced the Bear years, I experienced the Saban years,” he said. “It’ll never be that good again.”

But Sloan said all Alabama fans knew it was inevitable. Saban had to retire eventually.

“I’m glad he’ll get to enjoy his grandkids.”