If you tuned into SEC Football Weekly on the night the entire college football world was flipped upside down—with LSU, Florida, Florida State, and Penn State all suddenly searching for new head coaches—you might’ve caught the “Attaboy” segment. SEC Unfiltered’s own Cole Thompson handed out his weekly praise and included someone who isn't a coach or a player, but to Miss Terry Saban herself—right as Baton Rouge boosters started buzzing about their next big splash on the sidelines.
“(Miss Terry) There’s a group of people in Baton Rouge who think there is some unfinished business for your family,” Thompson joked. “This has nothing to do with him. ROLL TIDE?”
That’s right. The attaboy wasn’t about recruiting, NIL, or another Saban statue getting built in Tuscaloosa. Nope — this one’s about the queen of the Saban family reportedly holding the line while the college football world starts whispering “one last ride.” Nick Saban this week made it clear on the Pat McAfee Show that he wants to stay retired and joked he’s keeping Jimmy Sexton away from Miss Terry, knowing she’s the true gatekeeper for any coaching decisions. “When she hears some of these numbers, she gets interested. And I’m not interested,” he said.
Chris Phillips jumped in with some truth: “If you can sell her… she can make him get back on the sideline and do his thing.” You could almost hear Alabama fans clutching their crimson jerseys. Because let’s be honest — if Miss Terry gives the OK, Saban might just find himself back on the headset quicker than Brian Kelly can drop a southern accent.
Nick Saban’s career at LSU stands as one of the most pivotal stretches in modern college football history. Saban coached the Tigers from 2000 to 2004, leading LSU to a 48-16 overall record and a 28-12 mark in SEC play. During his five seasons in Baton Rouge, Saban’s teams claimed two SEC championships (2001, 2003), three SEC West Division titles, five bowl appearances, and capped the era with the 2003 BCS national championship—defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
His LSU tenure marked a dramatic turnaround for the program, which had struggled before his arrival. Saban earned his first national Coach of the Year award and SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2003, and solidified his reputation for building championship programs. He departed for the Miami Dolphins after the 2004 season. That jump to the Dolphins the stage for his legendary run at Alabama. Saban retired in 2024 after 17 seasons at the Tide.
Cole summed it up with that perfect SEC blend of mischief and truth: “Part of me thinks Nick has it just a little bit. One away from being the greatest.”