What Nick Saban Wants for His Birthday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama head coach Nick Saban will turn 72 on Tuesday, but his birthday is the least of his concerns as his No. 8 Crimson Tide team prepares to face No. 13 LSU this weekend.
What does he want for his birthday? Just an Alabama win.
"That would be an outstanding birthday present if we could play well in this game," Saban said Monday. "So that's what I'm focused on and that's what we're really trying to do. When your birthday and holidays come up during the football season, they're really not holidays and they're really not birthdays. You get older, but you don't really celebrate much."
Last week, Saban said that he would be able to spend some time during the bye weekend celebrating with family and friends at the lake.
It's challenging to know what present to get someone who makes more than $11 million a year, but Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe knows exactly what his head coach wants.
"I think the biggest gift he wants is to win this week," Milroe said with a laugh. "We all know that in the locker room. We're all definitely going to be telling him happy birthday. He's getting old, but he still acts young– that's the funny part. He does everything young. He's a lot of fun."
Even in the midst of another SEC Western title and CFP hunt, the program will almost assuredly set aside a few minutes Tuesday to sing the head coach "Happy Birthday" and enjoy some slices of birthday cake.