Nick Saban, Alabama football updates at 2023 SEC Media Days: Follow our live coverage
Alabama football will headline the third day of 2023 SEC Media Days in Nashville.
Nick Saban will participate in his 16th SEC Media Days as coach of the Crimson Tide, which is the most of any coach in history with one program, according to the SEC.
Saban is entering his 17th season leading Alabama after arriving in 2007. He will look to lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship for a seventh time this season. He will do so with two new coordinators in Tommy Rees (offense) and Kevin Steele (defense), but Steele has been on the staff in multiple roles before.
What can be expected from Saban and his players at media days? The Alabama quarterback battle is sure to be part of discussions, but there will be plenty of other topics discussed as well.
Follow along for live updates from Nashville:
Nick Saban says developing quarterbacks is like baking cake
Nick Saban made it clear building a quarterback room is about developing everyone, and picking the starter when the time is right. He compares the process to baking cakes, something his grandmother was great at.
"She said, 'If I don’t let it go through and take it out of the oven too soon, it’s going to turn to mush. So it won’t be a really good cake,' " Saban said.
"I think we’ve got to let this sort of develop," Saban said. "Let the cake bake until somebody separates themselves. All the players are working hard. They all have a good attitude. They’re all competing well.”
Nick Saban praises Hugh Freeze
Nick Saban was adamant in his praise for Hugh Freeze, his friend who's now a rival head coach at Auburn. The two will face each other for the Iron Bowl.
He made it clear he will remain friends with Freeze, in spite of the heated rivalry of the storied football programs. Saban gave a glimpse of what that dynamic is like.
"I play golf. I play some of my best friends," Saban said. "They wanna beat me and I wanna beat them ... but when the game is over, we're still friends."
Nick Saban says experience is important, but so is his players' 'hunger'
When asked about the inexperience of his roster heading into 2023, Nick Saban noted the importance of having "hungry" newcomers who can make up for the experience lost in the offseason.
Nick Saban vacationed to Italy with his family
Alabama coach Nick Saban vacationed to Italy as a 50th wedding anniversary with his wife. He still heard "roll tide" on his visit.
“It was a great trip,” Saban said. “I would recommend anybody go. Florence is fantastic. Rome is fantastic … and we got ‘Roll Tide’ everywhere we went. If you think you’re gonna be incognito over there, that’s not gonna happen.”
When will Nick Saban speak at 2023 SEC Media Days?
Time: 9:05 a.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
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Offensive tackle JC Latham, linebacker Dallas Turner and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Nick Saban, Alabama football updates from 2023 SEC Media Days
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban, Alabama football at 2023 SEC Media Days: Live coverage
