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Eli Gold opens up on Nick Saban’s importance to SEC, college football
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Eli Gold has had a front-row seat to the Nick Saban era since it began in 2007.
The Crimson Tide radio voice appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Thursday to discuss Saban’s retirement and the impact the legendary head coach had, not just on the Tide program, but the SEC and college football as a whole.
“Teams and coaches have changed their approach,” Gold told Patrick. “The SEC was a CBS and Nick Saban joint effort if you will … He has revolutionized the game. He has taught everybody how to coach and how to do different things.”
Related: How Alabama pulled off the great heist of Nick Saban
Gold, who joined the Crimson Tide Sports Network in 1988, spent an immense amount of time with Saban, noting, among other things, his sense of humor that often wasn’t seen by fans used to viewing short clips on social media.
“He is a genuine nice guy and wants what is best for his players and what’s best for the game,” Gold said. “I wish there was a position of commissioner of college football because he’d be magnificent to fill that position. … He has meant so much to college ball and to the SEC, and of course to building the Alabama brand to where it is today.”
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
