Nick Saban Return Rumors Run Rampant During Sec Media Days

The aged adage goes: Where location is smoke, location is fire. And nan metaphorical fume billowed during nan first time of SEC Media Days connected Monday astir assemblage shot fable Nick Saban.

Rumors astir Saban returning to nan athletics he near much than a twelvemonth agone ramped up.

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Alabama Coach Nick Saban argues pinch a referee pursuing a 4th fourth telephone against Arkansas. (Robert Sutton/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Former Alabama Crimson Tide backmost Greg McElroy brought immoderate of nan rumors into nan ambiance during an question and reply connected nan "Mac and Cube" power show successful Birmingham.

"A very overmuch in-the-know personification that I person a batch of respect for and person spent a batch of clip astir and conscionable really, really admire, they look to deliberation Nick Saban is not done coaching," McElroy said. "He’s beautiful adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will beryllium coaching again."

McElroy did opportunity he believed, personally, Saban was vanished during an quality connected ESPN.

"I’d beryllium shocked (if he came back). … There are group connected to nan sports world that deliberation he’s not done. Now, construe that nevertheless you will. People that would beryllium somewhat knowledgeable astir thing for illustration this, yes," he said.

Alabama coach Nick Saban reacts successful nan 4th fourth astatine Bryant-Denny Stadium connected Saturday nighttime Sept. 11, 2010. (Robert Sutton/The Tuscaloosa News)

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Ole Miss Rebels caput coach Lane Kiffin said he believed Saban will beryllium backmost connected nan sidelines — whether it’s successful assemblage shot aliases nan pros.

"He's not going to request maine to prosecute him," Kiffin said, via nan Clarion Ledger. "I don't deliberation he's done. I deliberation he'll beryllium back. Whether that's assemblage aliases NFL I deliberation he'll beryllium back."

LSU Tigers caput coach Brina Kelly seemed to beryllium each for Saban coming backmost to nan sport.

"It’d beryllium amended for assemblage shot if Nick Saban is coaching," he said, via On3 Sports. "Period. There’s cipher amended to create players and surely build title programs."

Saban left Alabama aft respective nationalist championships. He suggested nan advent of name, image and likeness and nan lawlessness of nan transportation portal were nan reasons why he stepped distant from nan sport.

Nick Saban of nan Alabama Crimson Tide reacts anterior to a crippled against nan Texas Longhorns astatine Bryant-Denny Stadium connected September 09, 2023 successful Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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It’s unclear whether Saban would entertain nan thought of a return. 

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