Video: Alabama Students Chant ‘Anyone But Dabo’ After Nick Saban Retirement

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 11, 2024

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Dabo Swinney may have played college football at Alabama, but it doesn’t seem like the current students are looking for any type of homecoming.

After legendary head coach Nick Saban retired Wednesday, some Alabama students were seen chanting “anyone but Dabo” for a potential replacement:

Brittany Decker @BrittanyWVTM13Students chant “anyone but Dabo!” in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium. @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/3MPGDt7WQ9

There may not be much love lost between Alabama fans and Swinney. After all, the Crimson Tide faced Swinney’s Clemson squad in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game three different times, and the Tigers came out victorious in two of the matchups.

Perhaps there are also concerns that Clemson has trended in the wrong direction of late.

The Tigers missed the CFP in each of the last three seasons, and there has been some criticism for the coach’s lackluster approach to the transfer portal and the new era of college football. Any unwillingness to adapt to today’s game would only become more troubling in the SEC, where the Crimson Tide consistently face some of the country’s top competition.

Still, Swinney is a proven winner and multi-time national champion with a clear connection to the Crimson Tide.

But Alabama fans don’t seem too excited about the idea of bringing him back.