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Dabo Swinney got a call last week from a familiar voice — one that’s shaped the modern era of college football almost as much as his own program has. Nick Saban, the seven-time national champion and longtime Alabama head coach, reached out to Swinney before Clemson’s 24–10 win over Florida State with a simple message: every great coach eventually has a tough season, and how you respond defines you.
“Nick, he’s awesome, man,” Swinney said after the game. “He just kind of went back and forth a little bit. Biggest thing, he’s just like, listen, if you coach long enough—and you’ve coached long enough—sooner or later, you will have a season like this.”
The words carried weight. Saban, 74, retired from Alabama after one of the most successful coaching runs in college football history. Across his career, he won seven national championships—six at Alabama and one at LSU—and compiled a record of 292–71–1 (.804). His philosophy, famously known as The Process, became a model for sustained success, emphasizing daily discipline over results.
Now, Saban enjoys college football Saturday mornings on ESPN’s College GameDay set, allowing him to keep up with every program in America, including Swinney’s Tigers, who are in the midst of an unusual season, currently sitting at 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC.
Swinney said Saban’s call wasn’t just about encouragement—it was perspective from someone who’s lived every high and low the sport can offer.
“He said, ‘There’s opportunity in every situation, and I know you’ll take advantage of this opportunity,’” Swinney recalled. “He just wished me well. I mean, he was great—just very supportive.”
The Clemson head coach even managed to slip in a joke. “He said, ‘Let me know if you need anything,’ and I said, ‘Can you come play corner for me this week?’” Swinney said, smiling.
The two men are forever linked by the four Alabama–Clemson playoff classics that helped define the 2010s. From the 2015 national title game, when Saban’s Crimson Tide outlasted Clemson 45–40, to the 2016 and 2018 titles the Tigers won over Alabama, their programs set the standard for excellence across college football’s modern playoff era.
Saban’s call came at a time when Swinney has leaned heavily on faith, perspective, and leadership to steady his team through an uneven season. But it also underscored the mutual respect between two coaches who’ve walked similar paths—from Alabama roots to national titles, to seasons that test patience and belief.
“He’s got a great perspective,” Swinney said. “He’s coached a long time—a long, long time. Obviously, we’ve had some battles, and always great respect for him. I really appreciated that. I really appreciated just his reaching out and his support.”
It was a moment that said as much about the fraternity of elite coaches as it did about the bond between competitors. The man who built The Process reminding a fellow national championship-winning coach, Swinney, that the process still matters most—even in a year that tests every bit of it.
