Nick Saban retirement: A minute-by-minute look at how it happened
It’s been more than 24 hours since the news of Nick Saban’s retirement rocked the college football world.
The whole story moved fast as shockwaves turned into speculation about the succession plan. In the chaos it would be easy to miss or forget a few details from the timeline of events.
So after a full day that felt like a decade, here’s a tick-tock rundown of the major milestones in the biggest news story of our time.
10:00 am. CT: Nick Saban was on a Zoom call with SEC coaches, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a radio interview when news broke Wednesday afternoon.
3:55 p.m.: Saban, in a Thursday interview on ESPN, said he looked at the clock five minutes before a team meeting still undecided on which speech he’d give the room. Retire or return?
4:00: Saban tells the Alabama team, coaches and staff he was retiring.
4:06: ESPN’s Chris Low reports Saban is retiring on the social media site, X.
4:18: Former Alabama CB Terrion Arnold posts to social media “Best to ever do it” with a GOAT emoji.
5:30 (approx.): Five-star WR commit Ryan Williams decommits from Alabama.
6:11: Terry Saban releases a statement on Nick’s Kids Facebook page, all but confirming the retirement and thanking the Alabama community.
6:39: The official news release from Alabama on Saban’s retirement was posted to social media.
Evening: Multiple, ultimately incorrect reports, surface indicating Oregon coach Dan Lanning was in Tuscaloosa. By Thursday, Lanning told ESPN he was at home in Eugene watching a movie with his family when he saw those reports.
7:15 a.m. CT (approx..): Saban arrives at the Alabama football complex just over 15 hours after the news of his retirement hit.
10:22: The initial story from Saban’s first post-retirement interview is published on ESPN’s website. In it, he said there aren’t any major issues but health concerns were part of the reason that went into retiring.
11. CT: Lanning posts video on social media in which he says he’s staying at Oregon. One name is off the board.
2:00: First TV interview with Saban airs on ESPN with Rece Davis. Overall, he and wife Terry Saban, are in good health, Saban told ESPN.
2:30 (approx.): Saban leaves the Alabama football complex, local TV captures on video.
3:55: Full ESPN interview with Rece Davis and Saban is published on YouTube before airing on the network later in the evening.
4:00: The updated list of candidates published by FootballScoop includes former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and Missouri coach Drinkwitz along with Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
Of course, this timeline will be updated as this saga continues.
Because as Saban once famously said, this is not the end. This is just the beginning.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
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