On Saturday, Sept. 7, the University of Alabama will formally dedicate Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with pregame and halftime ceremonies in addition to several commemorative items celebrating the occasion.
The Honorary Degrees and Recognition Committee of the University of Alabama System board of trustees unanimously passed a resolution on July 19 approving the naming honor, and the board of trustees will formally adopt the resolution and present it to Saban at its September meeting later this week.
Saturday’s first ceremony, scheduled for approximately 2:30 p.m., will take place at the head of the Walk of Champions on University Boulevard where the stadium sign will be unveiled following remarks from University President Dr. Stuart R. Bell, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne and former head football coach Nick Saban.
From there, the Sabans will walk the Walk of Champions and take their first trip onto Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
At halftime of Saturday’s University of Alabama game against the University of South Florida, there will be an on-field recognition for the Sabans at the conclusion of the Million Dollar Band performance.
Vector Security Champions Lane on the northwest side of the stadium will have commemorative gameday posters, while supplies last, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saban’s national and SEC championship trophies will also be on display in Champions Lane.
A limited number of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium Yeti cups will be on sale in Champions Lane and at game program stands outside the stadium. A newly designed Walk of Champions T-shirt, featuring the Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium sign, will be on sale at merchandise stands.
Additionally, commemorative game programs will be on sale throughout the perimeter and inside the stadium, and commemorative game tickets will be available for purchase following the game.
Saban coached for 28 years at the collegiate level and won six of his seven national championships at Alabama (2009, 2011-12, 2015, 2017 and 2020). He compiled a 297-71-1 (.806) collegiate coaching record, including a 206-29 (.877) mark in Tuscaloosa. Saban’s teams won a combined 11 SEC titles, nine of which came with the Crimson Tide.
In his six national championship seasons at Alabama, Saban’s teams went 21-2 against top-10 opponents and, since 2008, the Crimson Tide was 37-15 overall against top-10 teams. Alabama was also ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll for at least one week for 15 straight years (2008-22), which broke the record of seven established by Miami (1986-92).
Saban coached four Heisman Trophy winners, joining Notre Dame’s Frank Leahy for the most in college football history. He is the only coach to ever have Heisman Trophy winners at three different positions (running back, wide receiver and quarterback). Additionally, Crimson Tide players secured 60 national individual awards.
Under his watch, 66 All-America honors were won by 58 individuals from 2008 to 2023. Eight players were named two-time All-Americans along with 46 consensus honors and 25 unanimous selections. Will Anderson Jr. became the first two-time unanimous All-American in Alabama history.
Off the field, Alabama football saw a total of 656 degrees earned, including 103 master’s degrees.
Through the Nick’s Kids Foundation, more than $13 million has been distributed to students, teachers and children’s causes at more than 150 charities since the Sabans’ arrival in Tuscaloosa. Also, 21 homes have been built in the community through Habitat for Humanity.
