'Get well soon': Alabama football fans struggling with Saban's retirement as tributes grow
A day after Nick Saban announced his retirement, Alabama Crimson Tide fans are struggling to come to terms with his departure.
The tribute surrounding Saban's statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium grew throughout Thursday accumulating more oatmeal cream pie cookies, crimson and white pom-poms and signs praising the now retired head football coach.
One person even left a "get well soon" balloon, despite the fact that Saban is neither ill nor in the hospital.
Fans across the state at Auburn University celebrated their gridiron torturer's departure – Saban was 11-5 in the Iron Bowl in route to nine Southeastern Conference championships and six national championships at the helm of the Crimson Tide – by taking part in rolling Toomer's Corner, a tradition normally reserved for major wins.
See how the Nick Saban tribute has grown
Outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, #Alabama fans have placed oatmeal cream pies and coke at the bottom of Nick Saban’s statue.
Somber aura around the University’s campus. pic.twitter.com/k60pBCj6jK— Mathey Gibson (@Mathey_Gibson1) January 10, 2024
The state of the Nick Saban statue in Tuscaloosa the morning after his retirement: A growing potpourri of Little Debbies, flowers, signs and anything else fans have on them to offer as tribute to the now-former Alabama football coach. pic.twitter.com/DG8TCUTUJ9
— Ben Flanagan (@ThisBenFlanagan) January 11, 2024
Amazing scene outside of @BryantDenny_UA stadium at the Nick Saban statue. Reporters—print and broadcast—here from around the nation. “It feels like I lost a family member,” a junior said to me as I was on the way to teaching my first class of the semester. pic.twitter.com/SVBZezVcYK
— Lars Anderson (@LarsAnderson71) January 11, 2024
Fans continue to come and pay tribute to Nick Saban’s incredible career at Alabama by visiting his statue on the Walk of Champions @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/n0UMgzUomK
— Brooks Carter (@BrooksACarter) January 11, 2024
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Saban tribute at Alabama grows overnight with odd mementos