Nick Saban unaware of election: 'We're focused on other things here'

ByAlex Scarborough ESPN logo
Thursday, November 10, 2016

Nick Saban said he wasn't aware that millions of Americans went to the polls on Tuesday to vote for the next president of the United States.

"It was so important to me that I didn't even know it was happening," Alabama's head football coach told reporters in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday evening. "We're focused on other things here."

To be fair, news media isn't part of Saban's routine.

The 65-year-old coach typically wakes up every morning, has a Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie and a cup of coffee and watches about 10 minutes of The Weather Channel, which promised no political coverage on Election Day.

Surely someone told Saban on Wednesday morning that Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton, but we can't be sure.

"I don't really make political comments," Saban said. "If I say I like one person, that means that everybody that voted for the other person doesn't like me. So why would I do that? I want what's best for our country. I'm not sure I can figure that out. I want what's best for people who want to improve the quality of their life, and I hope whoever our leader is will certainly do all that he can do to make our country safe and improve the quality of life of a lot of people in our country -- and I don't think I'm qualified to determine who that should be."

Saban's undefeated and No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide will host Mississippi Stateon Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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