Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban has been known to sometimes be a bit, er, colorful with his language.
Anyone who watched Saban through the years at his press conferences at Alabama (and previously at LSU) or saw him animated on the sidelines during games doesn’t need a reminder.
During his appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay, which broadcast live from Ohio Stadium in Columbus ahead of the top five matchup between the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers and No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Saban made light of his history of swearing by telling a story involving Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs.
Downs committed to Alabama in 2022 and spent his freshman season in 2023 with the Crimson Tide before transferring to Ohio State after Saban announced his retirement in January.
As Saban explained:
“The one thing about Caleb that I have to tell you: I just don’t know if I can trust him. We had a rule last year because I didn’t want to cuss in meetings. I was trying to be this ‘transformational’ leader and set a good example. So, every time I cussed in a meeting — and I was always in the DBs’ meeting — I had to pay five bucks. Well, Caleb was the guy holding the can. Well, there was about $500 in the can, and I don’t know whatever happened to the can.”
Host Rece Davis said that he had learned that Downs and former teammate Terrion Arnold, now a rookie cornerback with the Detroit Lions, had spent the proceeds of the “swear can.”
“Jen Lada did a little bit of digging. Caleb Downs says he and Terrion Arnold have spent that money. Wherever it is, it’s gone,” Davis said to a chorus of laugher from Saban and the GameDay crew. Saban quipped: “It should have been a group deal.”
All joking aside, Saban praised Downs for being one of the best players he had ever coached.
“This guy is one of the most complete people that I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach. He’s a great person, a great student, and he’s a phenomenal football player, a great competitor. His competitive IQ, how he responds on the field and reacts instinctively, I mean it’s in the top tier of all players of all-time.”
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