Nick Saban is a lot more relaxed than he was a year ago.
Last year, he was the Alabama football coach, putting in 14 hours a day, looking for an eighth national championship. Now, the 72-year-old ESPN analyst simply has a different outlook on life.
“You don’t have that 14-hour-a-day stress of solving problems all the time,” Saban told Kirk Herbstreit during an edition of “Walks with Ben.” “I don’t miss that because you almost – when you’re coaching and so committed to it – you don’t understand what a normal human being does and how they enjoy life.
“This has been really fun to spend more time with family and Miss Terry and not have the stress of being in a hurry all the time.”
The “College GameDay” analyst pointed to a recent traffic jam, which helped him put his current life in perspective.
“I was sitting on a bridge the other day, and traffic was backed up,” he explained. “I would be the guy in the other lane and go all the way around everybody and cut in at the last minute. Everybody is cursing you for doing it.
“I was sitting there, and people were doing that. I looked at Miss Terry, and I said, ‘Last year, that would’ve been me, but I’m happy to sit here and wait my turn.’”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
