Starting on Saturday, every player who competes for and against Alabama football in Tuscaloosa will play on Saban Field.

The Crimson Tide held a ceremony the afternoon before the South Florida game honoring Nick Saban and Terry Saban. With all the various UA dignitaries in attendance and thousands of fans watching, the signage was unveiled at the start of the Walk of Champions, with “Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.”

Nick and Terry both spoke before the unveiling. Here’s what they said.

Nick Saban’s speech at Saban Field ceremony

“This (talking about the thousands of fans cheering) is no surprise to me or us because your support has always been the best in the country in terms of how you supported Alabama athletics and how you supported the football program and how you supported us. I thank you so much. We appreciate you more than you know.

But this is a great honor to have the field named after the legacy we’ve been able to create here. I want this legacy to represent every player who played and worked hard. Every coach who helped those players develop. The administration who set a foundation where we had a chance to be successful by providing all the resources we needed to be the best program in the country. And to you the fans who were always positive in terms of the way you supported our players, our program, and all the things that we did. You’ve given more to me than we’ve given to you. You made us a part of this community 18 years ago, which we appreciate. It’s our home now.

You’ve give us the opportunity to be the coach at one of the great universities in this country. And I can’t tell you how much that means to me that Mal Moore and Dr. Witt gave us an opportunity 18 years ago now to come here and try to elevate Alabama football to be one of the nationally respected programs in the country. And it was a great team that did it. Not me. My family made great sacrifices. You had great impact with your support in creating one of the best atmospheres to play in in Bryant-Denny Stadium. This community embraced us when we came here.

I’m also proud of the fact, because we had such great support, we created a program that helped players be more successful in life. We could develop better people. We have 668 degrees in 17 years, which I’m very proud of. Which is going to help those guys have a better quality of life. And the number of wins and championships is all a reflection of the team. Which is the players, the coaches, you the fans, our administration, and everybody who represents the program.

I can’t thank you enough for being here today. But I can thank enough for the support that you have given us in good times and bad in terms of helping our program be successful. We want to continue to make Alabama one of the outstanding football programs in the country. But also one of the outstanding athletic programs in the country. Because I think it’s the window that people look at this great university. The impact that we were able to have by having a successful program has elevated our university. I’m proud of the fact we were able to contribute to that in so many ways. So thank you very much, and Roll Tide.”

Miss Terry’s speech at Saban Field ceremony

“Thank each and every one of you for coming here today. It means so much to us. Our family is excited and grateful for this historic honor. The past 17 years haven’t felt like work. Rather it has felt like teamwork. Players, coaches, staff, and our incredible fans have made it happen.

I just hope we can continue supporting Alabama, supporting children, students, teachers and education through the football platform as well as our Nick’s Kids Foundation. Thank you again, and Roll Tide.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.