Greg Sankey talks Nick Saban’s role in building future of college football

Nick Saban peered at Greg Sankey from the SEC Network set positioned back of house at SEC Media Days. The league’s commissioner had just been asked what role the former Alabama football coach could play in the future of college football and the conference.

Sankey started out referencing one of Saban’s familiar catchphrases.

“What can Nick do?” the commissioner said. “Well, help us avoid rat poison would be the first on the list.”

After retiring in January, Saban began working an advisory role for Alabama, and took a job as an ESPN analyst. He has shown interest in influencing the future of college football now that he’s retired from coaching.

Sankey said he’d already watched Saban engage in big-picture problem solving already, something he hoped would continue.

“One of the things I’ve found over time is Nick in many ways (is) uniquely thought ahead on issues,” Sankey said. “Provided really deep and clear insight, and he and I have had any number of conversations over -- this is my tenth year as commissioner, but I’ve been in the SEC for 23 years, and but for the two years he was with the Dolphins, were in conversation throughout those couple of decades.

“So I think he can bring that clarity. I think he can bring an understanding that even I don’t have dealing with these issues on the front lines as a head football coach, and I know he brings love of the game overall to an analysis.”

SEC Media Days began Monday in Dallas. The event will continue through Thursday, with Saban replacement Kalen DeBoer and his Crimson Tide taking the spotlight on Wednesday.

Press conferences are being aired on the SEC Network, which is featuring Saban as an analyst throughout the event.