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Nick Saban is one of the most iconic names in the annals of college football, the same way Kobe Bryant is in basketball. As the saying goes, real recognizes real. Bryant is undoubtedly one of the greatest NBA players of this century. So it was hardly surprising when Saban, a legendary coach, named the late NBA star as one he admires.
Saban disclosed during an interview at the Nick Saban Legacy Award Ceremony three years ago (3:30-5:0):
“Anybody in any profession who has had a tremendous amount of success, I have an admiration for that because I know how difficult it is. I don’t care if it’s in the music, you know, the Eagles or Michael Jackson or the Rolling Stones. I mean, those people have been successful for a long, long time. Elton John. You know, I admire that.
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“I admire Kobe Bryant. I admire Michael Jordan; guys who were dominant for a long, long time, and they did it on a very consistent basis because some people can be dominant for a little while, but it takes a special someone because it’s not really human nature to try to be the best you can be.
"It’s human nature to survive. So when you have somebody who gets to the point where they wanna be the best they can be and they can sustain it for a long, long time, that’s really something that I have a tremendous amount of appreciation and admiration for.”
When will the 2025 Nick Saban Legacy Award be held?
The 2025 edition of the Nick Saban Legacy Award will be held on Aug. 18, at the Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. Nick Saban and his wife, Terry, will be guests of honor at the event, which is slated to be co-hosted by Lauren Sisler and Rick Neuheisel.
The Nick Saban Legacy Award was first presented in 2022. It's a national award that is focused on recognizing the lifetime achievements of college coaches and honoring their respective contributions to the game.
Over the past editions, the award has honored Steve Spurrier, Eddie Robinson, Frank Beamer and Bobby Bowden. This year’s edition will honor the late Auburn legend Pat Dye and former Duke coach David Cutcliffe.
Over the years, Saban has become the epitome of dedication and success in college football coaching. In 17 years as Alabama coach, he amassed six national championships and nine SEC championships. He's widely regarded as the most successful coach in college football.
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