Nick Saban Remembers a Gas Station Doubter in Initial Season at Alabama

When Nick Saban took over the Alabama football program in the spring of 2007 it had been 15 years since the Crimson Tide had won a national championship. Luckily for Bama fans everywhere it didn't take Saban long as he climbed to the mountaintop in just his third season at the helm.

While Saban was successful in restoring Alabama to its rightful place atop college football, apparently there were some fans that weren't quite convinced the West Virginia-native was up to the task.

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The legendary coach, speaking at Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation event, recalled an interaction with a fan in his initial season after his team had lost to University of Louisiana Monroe in a massive upset.

“I needed gas, so I put gas in the car and ran inside to pay. When I was at LSU we won a national championship, so I had my LSU national championship ring on. The guy at the counter says, ‘Gee, what’s that you have on?’ I said, ‘It’s a national championship ring from LSU, and we’re going to do the same thing at Alabama.’ The guy looks at me and says, ‘We’re never gonna do it as long as that Nick Saban guy is our coach," said Saban.

It's certainly a good thing the Alabama fan base was patient and trusted the Saban process. After 15 years on the job he has made good on the promise he made six times over. Saban enters his 16th season in 2022 and the dynasty shows no signs of slowing down.