DALLAS — The legacy of a legend hung around the hotel ballroom where new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer took to the Southeastern Conference media days stage Wednesday morning.
It felt that way because the legend was, quite literally, hanging out in the room. As DeBoer talked, Nick Saban listened attentively from the elevated SEC Network set constructed in the corner.
Taking on a pundit role in his newfound retirement, Saban boosted the number of head coaches from last year’s College Football Playoff in attendance at this year’s media event to three, as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey pointed out: Saban, who led Alabama, and DeBoer, who led Washington, were joined by Texas’ Steve Sarkisian.