Comedian Shane Gillis recently disclosed a tense off-camera confrontation with former Alabama coach Nick Saban following the former’s comments on ESPN’s College GameDay.
Gillis was tapped as a ‘guest picker’ – a celebrity guest who offers their picks for some of the upcoming games – late last month.
Somewhere along the line, however, Gillis decided to rib Saban by suggesting the SEC paid its players while he was still coaching Alabama. You know, before everybody started paying players.
“Thereās a parity, now that everybody can pay their players, Notre Dame has a shot. Itās not just the SEC, itās not Coach Saban.”
Saban wasn’t there when the comments were made, but fellow host Pat McAfee told the coach about it by announcing, “You called him a cheater earlier.”
Saban was not pleased.
Shane Gillis calling Saban, Alabama Jones, and insinuating SEC teams have historically paid players, to his face, on national TV has to be one of the greatest roasts of all time. pic.twitter.com/Aey8yoepCH
— Nico Cuevas (@NicoSaysThings) December 21, 2024
Shane Gillis Backpedals When Saban Clearly Took Him Seriously
Shane Gillis did his best to reel things back in when it became clear that coach Saban took the comment seriously.
“I was just joking around,” Gillis fired back. “I donāt think the SEC paid players. Ever. Iām joking. Is this not a fun show?”
Not content with the remarks, the seven-time National Champion coach felt it necessary to clarify that he is not a cheater. Especially after Gillis made fun of his hat and called him “Alabama Jones.”
“I do believe in integrity. I always tried to run the program that way so players had a better chance to be successful in life,” Saban said. “We make more money in the NFL than any other school, 61 players in the league. That was how we cheated. We developed players.”
It was awkward.
RELATED: 10 Must-Know Facts About Alabamaās Coach Nick Saban
Coach Yelled At Him After
Shane Gillis recently appeared on the āTalk of the Townā podcast, revealing that Saban was definitely not pleased. Even despite McAfee insisting the coach was just giving it back to him a bit.
In fact, McAfee convinced the comedian to go have a chat with Saban, where all would be forgiven. Except, it wasn’t.
āSo I went up to him [Saban] after he was like, āYou think the SEC dominated cause we cheated? Thatās bull…,'” Gillis shouted. “He spazzed on me.”
Hilariously, Gillis explained that after he got yelled at, Saban needed a hand off the stage, and the only one he could find was … you guessed it. What a hilariously awkward moment.
āAfter he yelled at me, I had to help him down [off the stage], and he looked around to see if anyone else could help him, but I had to help him,” said Gillis.
Nick Saban shocked the college football world when he retired exactly one year ago, mentioning NIL money as a significant factor in his decision.
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