Nick Saban Was Denied Entry To SEC Media Day Because He Didn’t Have Proper Credentials: “Had To Go Back To The Room”

No coaching job, no entry. Even if you are Nick Saban, who just so happens to be one of the most legendary former head coaches in the South Eastern Conference's storied history. This is his first year going to the SEC's Media Day as a media member instead of the head coach of the University of Alabama, and judging by Saban's anecdote on ESPN's Get Up this morning, the SEC Media Day security runs a pretty tight ship. Saban began coaching at the University of Alabama in 2007. It was there with the Crimson Tide that he formed one of the most dynastic teams in all of sports, and coached a team that was basically a shoe in to make it to the national championship year in and year out. As the head coach for Alabama, Saban won a staggering six national titles. His first three were during the “BCS Era” in 2009, 2011, and 2012, and his last three were in the “College Football Playoff Era” in 2015, 2017, and 2020. Since the CFP started in 2015, Saban and Alabama only ever missed out of the playoffs in 2019 and 2022. Many thought that Saban would have to be dragged off the football field and into retirement, but the longtime head coach shocked the world when he announced his retirement in January of this year. He later cited in an interview that his age played a factor in the decision, and many speculate that the rising NIL issue also played a part in Saban leaving his coaching position behind. So now Saban is technically retired, though he actually just stepped right into a media role. He'll be an analyst on ESPN's College Gameday , and he'll fulfill other college football related roles for ESPN as well. The former Alabama HC joined Get Up live from the SEC Media Day today, and talked about how life has changed for him since he stepped away from his coaching position. One of those changes is the fact that he needs credentials now to get into the media day, and he was apparently turned away this morning when he didn't have one: "It's a little different. I've never worn a credential in my life and was always - for 17 years - get into SEC Media Day without a credential. I had to go back to the room today and get my credential to get in. That's one of the biggest changes I see. It's not like it used to be." Security at the SEC Media Day really turned away the most recognizable college football coach of the past two decades? That's crazy . But Saban handled it all pretty well, adding that the situation was handled with a lot of respect, and he simply went back to his room to get the credential that was provided to him as a media member: "The people were very polite, so it was okay." https://twitter.com/NickyPerkss/status/1812847919235531121