“It was really dry”: Nick Saban reminisces Miss Terry’s revolutionary impact on Alabama's game days

Nick Saban has long credited his wife, Miss Terry, as a key figure in his success at Alabama. The coach built one of the most successful programs in the history of college football, leading the Crimson Tide to six national championships and nine conference titles in 17 years.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday afternoon, Saban shared how Terry significantly enhanced the gameday atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“It was really dry when we first went to Alabama and everywhere we’d go, Miss Terry went to all the away games,” Saban said. “Everywhere we’d go she would come back and say, ‘Why don’t we do that? Why don’t we play this music during that? Why don’t we have these lights?’

“And it’s entertaining. And people sing songs and light up their phone at the same time and do the wave. I mean that’s the fun of the game that I think keeps people engaged, excited and enthusiastic. And I think it’s very important.”

Nick Saban’s understanding of the entertainment business

Nick Saban’s meticulous attention to detail has always been at the heart of his coaching philosophy, ensuring that every aspect of his team’s preparation is flawless. This was crucial to his on-field success during his tenure in Tuscaloosa.

However, he also recognized that winning on the field wasn't the only factor contributing to success. Keeping the fans energized and engaged during games was crucial to building a sellable brand. He successfully navigated both spheres with the Crimson Tide.

“Well, I think that I realized that it’s the entertainment business," Saban said. "But I also wanted to keep the team and the thing that you had to do with the team to get the team ready to play, and sort of create the culture and the organization that you needed to have, not to allow that to be affected by the entertainment business.

“I always tried to keep those two things separate, but I also knew as a coach you needed to do that to promote the program, to get recruits, so that people had an image of what the program was all about.”

Alabama had become one of the biggest and most attractive brands in college football when Saban was making his exit. The program boasted a large TV audience, an energetic in-game atmosphere, significant media attention and other features that made it reputable in the landscape.

Miss Terry played a pivotal role in ensuring all of this during the era of Saban in Alabama.