The new ESPN documentary “Saban,” detailing the illustrious life and career of legendary college football coach Nick Saban, includes never-before-seen footage of a particularly well-known moment from Saban’s time at Alabama.
The documentary shows Saban’s decision to bench Jalen Hurts at halftime of the 2018 national championship game in favor of Tua Tagovailoa.
Alabama went on to defeat Georgia to win the title.
In a sit-down interview for the documentary, Saban described how he told the coaches he was making the change. Then-offensive coordinator Brian Daboll asked Saban who would tell Hurts, and Saban replied, “Does that mean you want me to tell him?”
The clip cuts to the locker room, where Saban gestures to Tagovailoa and says, “We’ll choose as we go, but you’re gonna start the second half, and then we’re gonna play two guys.”
Saban explains that he knew “it was the time” to make the change at the half with Alabama down 13-0 and Hurts having thrown for only 21 yards.
Later in the clip, Hurts addressed the moment, saying he “can’t say that I was surprised” before trailing off to a long pause.
“He’s a competitor,” Saban said. “He wants to play. He wants to do well. No different than anybody else that ever played the sport. Nobody wants to be insignificant, but I didn’t make that decision in two minutes. I made it in two minutes, but I thought about it for two months. You don’t just make emotional decisions like, ‘I’m really frustrated we’re not moving the ball right now, so I’m gonna change quarterbacks.’ No, it was calculated.”
The decision worked out well for Saban and the Crimson Tide. Tagovailoa threw three touchdowns, including the game-winner to DeVonta Smith in overtime, in the 26-23 Alabama win.
