Nick Saban wasn’t even coaching, but he still found a way to absolutely ignite Tennessee fans on College GameDay this past Saturday, pulling out a comment that drew an immediate, and very NSFW, chant from the Knoxville crowd. The former Alabama coach, now an analyst, proved he hasn’t lost his touch for stirring the pot.
Saban’s Savage Jab on GameDay
While on ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast live from Knoxville, Saban got asked about the No. 1 Texas vs. No. 14 Tennessee matchup. The question was which “UT” program had the edge. Saban initially played it cool, seemingly siding with the Volunteers, but then he dropped the hammer. “I’m all in on the University of Tennessee,” Saban said, pausing before delivering the ultimate jab, “because we smoked 16 out of 17 cigars when we played you all.” That’s a brutal line, referencing the rivalry’s “Third Saturday in October” tradition and his incredible record against them. Pat McAfee, who was right there on the set, just busted out laughing at the comment.
Knoxville Responds With Fire (and an NSFW Chant)
You can bet the Knoxville crowd did not find Saban’s joke funny at all. The orange-clad fans immediately let him have it, responding with a loud NSFW chant aimed right at Saban. You could clearly hear them chanting “F*ck Nick Saban” in the background, making it one of the most heated moments of the broadcast. McAfee even took to X (formerly Twitter) afterwards, writing, “That’s so rude Coach Saban 😂😂 #CollegeGameDay.” It’s no wonder the fans were so riled up, given Saban’s history. During his tenure at Alabama, he dominated Tennessee with a staggering 16-1 record, only losing once to them in a 52-49 game back in 2022. Even without a headset on, Saban showed everyone he still knows exactly how to get under the Volunteers’ skin. Talk about a legend knowing his audience!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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