It’s not often that a legendary coach — perhaps the greatest of all time — gets second billing.

But that’s exactly how it was when recently retired University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban addressed graduates Thursday night at Coleman Colisseum, ahead of President Donald Trump’s speech.

“It’s a special moment for me, but I gotta be honest with you: I feel like I’m the warmup band for The Rolling Stones,” Saban joked before congratulating graduates on their hard work and commitment to the university.

“But I want you to remember something: you created an opportunity to create a legacy now,” he said.

Saban reflected on his first championship with the Tide in 2009, when he said that first title was “not the end, it’s the beginning.”

Like that 2009 team, Saban said, the Class of 2025 has the chance “to create a legacy of success.”

“You’re gonna face new challenges, you’re gonna face new opportunities now,” the retired coach said.

Saban’s wisdom for the Class of 2025 included his blueprint for success — known as The Process.

“I always tell people that you need to be very wise about the goals that you set. But more important, you have to define ‘what do I need to do to accomplish those goals.’ That’s called ‘The Process,’” he said.

The graduates will need self-discipline, Saban said, and compassion for people.

“Its nice to be important, but its also important to be nice,” he said.

The graduates must be responsible for their own self-determination, he said.

“You got to earn it. Have accountability for what your job is.”

The competition is not other teams or other people, Saban said.

“It’s not about being better than someone else,” he said. “It’s about being the best that you can be.”