The Bronze Era Begins: Nick Saban Joins the Walk of Champions
On April 16, 2011, during A-Day festivities, the University of Alabama unveiled a majestic nine-foot-tall bronze statue of head coach Nick Saban outside Bryant–Denny Stadium. The work, placed on the famous Walk of Champions alongside giants like Bear Bryant, Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, and Gene Stallings, depicts Saban in a moment of intensity—clapping his hands in mid-game, calling out plays and motivating players. nd a focal point of campus culture—was the brainchild of undergraduate art major Jeremy K. Davis (BFA 2011), who translated initial sketches into a final 3-foot maquette and collaborated with UA sculpture professors Craig Wedderspoon and Daniel Livingston. After approval from Saban and his wife, Terry, the sculpture was cast by MTM Recognition in Oklahoma City.
Davis’s story is extraordinary in its blending of youthful ambition and legacy-building. A ceramics and printmaking undergrad, he was tapped by Saban’s wife to take on the commission. Over two and a half intense months, Davis worked tirelessly—25 to 35 hours a week—producing sketches, clay and wire maquettes, and refining them with direct input from both Saban and Terry
“They wanted him in a teaching moment where he was clapping and urging his players on,” Davis reflected, capturing the coach’s essence not in stoic formality but in the act of coaching itself. This depiction stood in stark contrast to the statues of prior Alabama legends, which showed them in suits and formal poses.
After Davis finalized his design under the mentorship of UA faculty and the logistical framework of MTM Recognition, the statue was unveiled at A-Day—bringing to life a long-anticipated celebration of Saban’s early triumph: the 2009 national championship that triggered the monument’s commission
The statue’s placement on the Walk of Champions is deeply symbolic. Located just north of Bryant–Denny Stadium—now officially Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium, a dedication made in July 2024—the statue places Saban among the small pantheon of Crimson Tide coaching royalty.
Each statue on the walk serves as a tribute to coaches who secured national championships—Saban became the fifth, honoring the 2009 title. The stature, attire, and pose all contribute to a narrative: Saban was more than a coach—he was both teacher and tactician.
Over the years, the statue has taken on a life of its own. Students frequently gather at its base to connect with Saban’s legacy—whether celebrating victories, seeking inspiration before exams, or paying homage during hard times. Coverage from Sports Illustrated and USADA-backed local outlets captured emotional scenes as students flocked to the statue the day Saban announced his retirement on January 10, 2024. (si.com)
As twilight ushered in a campus-wide melancholy, students left roses, pom-poms, Coca-Cola cans, and Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies—a nod to Saban’s popular morning routine—at the statue’s feet. Some even hugged it, attributing the sensation to losing a family member. (si.com)
Emotions ran high: fans chanted, “Anyone but Dabo,” awaiting the post-Saban era; TV crews filmed constant crowds; and social feeds filled with tributes and memes. The statue had become a canvas for communal feeling.
Fans credit Saban with building scholarships, shaping careers, and even altering personal trajectories—including forging lifelong relationships.
The statue isn’t the only tribute. In July 2024, the University formally renamed its field at Bryant–Denny Stadium to Nick Saban Field, marking an enduring symbol of his impact. The decision, approved by the Board of Trustees, culminated nearly two decades of leadership, with Saban finishing 206–29 at Alabama and bagging six national titles (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020). (
UA President Stuart R. Bell praised the move as “a fitting way to honor Coach Saban’s extraordinary contributions”—not only for victories, but for building character, strengthening culture, and enhancing community cohesion. (
By 2024, Alabama had etched “Nick Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium” on signage, cementing his name in the physical and emotional landscape of Tuscaloosa.
Artistic choices shaped the statue’s reception: Saban stands in khakis and polo, caught mid-clap—an active, human moment. This strikes a contrast: earlier statues are form-fitted and impersonal; Saban’s is dynamic and approachable.
But not all praise is equal—online humor is ripe. Reddit comments poked fun:
Yet Saban himself—and especially Terry—approved every detail. The statue’s pose was a deliberate choice, reinforcing the coach’s identity as a motivator, not a monument. (reddit.com)
The statue has become more than art: it’s a shrine of collegiate ritual. Academic mornings, exam weeks, big games—students migrate to its base seeking inspiration, centering, and connection. Oatmeal Cream Pies and Coca-Colas reappear after wins, retirements, and milestone anniversaries.
Every national championship coach on the Walk of Champions bears a statue, and Saban’s presence there continues that tradition—his statue enshrined in narrative and granitenal championships (LSU in 2003; six at Alabama), four Heisman winners (Ingram, Henry, Smith, Young), 133 NFL drafted players—including 47 first-rounders—and 9 SEC titles with Alabama. He also reshaped program prestige, recruiting, and financial scale
Yet this statue speaks to more than statistics. It marks transformation—from a college team under NCAA investigations to a generational powerhouse under Saban’s disciplined, process-driven leadership.
Students often don’t just cheer; they reflect:
He wasn’t just teaching football—he was teaching perseverance, mental toughness, and teamwork. In classrooms and dorms, those claps echo far beyond the field.
January 10, 2024 became a turning point. As news of Saban’s retirement rippled across ESPN and campus speakers, students flocked to the statue—some weeping, others chanting, laying tokens at its base. Reporters described an atmosphere of grief and gratitude: “It feels like a death in the family,” whispered a student. (si.com)
Candles, notes, drinks, cakes—symbols of thanks—piled up. Each item echoed moments in Saban’s tenure: final victories, morning rituals, celebratory dances.
With Saban gone, questions loom: who leads next? Will the culture continue?
Students and fans draw solace from shared uncertainty—trusting in the legacy Saban built. “One of his legacies is the coaching tree,” reflected a student. “I’m hoping… we get one of those guys.” (reddit.com, si.com)
The statue does more than honor a man—it inspires continuity. It bridges eras, reminding players and fans alike: The standard is set. Work ethic endures. Excellence is earned.
The Nick Saban statue is more than bronze and patina—it’s emotion cast in public art. Its scale—nine feet tall, realistic, dynamic—reflects a living legacy that continues to define the university.
Designed by a student, shaped by his mentors, approved by the coach and his wife, it’s a collaboration of trust, vision, and purpose. Placed among legends, it invites future generations to stand, reflect, remember—and perhaps, to clap.
This statue, like a poem in bronze, says
The statue’s future is as alive as its origin. It will guide new players on their way to sidelines. It will mark the paths of incoming freshmen. Aural echoes of claps—transformed to metal—will resonate through generations.
It’s memorial and motivation: an emblem of discipline, of coaching, of enduring achievement. Its mere presence compels forward motion. Every time a player walks by, they pass through a whisper from the past: Saban believed in process. Saban believed in you.
- Design & Artist: Created by student Jeremy K. Davis under mentorship of UA faculty, cast by MTM Recognition (art.ua.edu).
- Pose & Attire: Depicts Saban mid-clap, in game-day gear, distinct from formal previous statues (washingtontimes.com).
- Campus Culture: Frequently visited, especially on key emotional dates; adorned with personal tributes.
- Artistic Debate: Mixed feedback on proportions, but pose reflects intentional approval by Saban and Terry .
- Wider Honors: Statue followed by the renaming of Saban Field in July 2024 (the-sun.com).
- Emotional Climax: Retirement in January 2024 triggered campus-wide grieving rituals centered on the statue (wvua23.com).
A statue is static—but its story is dynamic. In the case of Nick Saban, the bronze figure captures moments of human urgency, of drive, of leadership. It stands as a testament to transformation—not just of a football program, but of individual lives and university culture.
Whether a prospective student or a seasoned alum, standing at the base of that statue is an invitation—to join a legacy, to embrace challenges, and to aspire to greatness. The statue is not merely a monument; it is a calling.
