Paul Finebaum argues that the University of Alabama squandered an opportunity to make a significant gesture by honoring former football coach Nick Saban this season.
“Naming a field after the greatest coach in college football is an insult,” Finebaum said during his weekly segment on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5.
The SEC Network analyst described the choice to name the field Saban Field as “underwhelming.”
“It shouldn’t just be Nick Saban Field,” Finebaum said. “It should be Bryant-Saban Stadium.”
His argument is that people don’t refer to Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or Vince Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium.
“Fields are insignificant,” Finebaum said. “… That’s just superficial.”
“For the life of me, I don’t understand why the University of Alabama is so stubborn,” Finebaum said. “I don’t think this is a fitting tribute to Saban. It feels like an insult to place him below (Paul) Bryant and (George) Denny. Denny has Denny Chimes, which might be the most iconic feature on the Alabama campus.”
Finebaum believes Alabama missed an opportunity to make a strong statement.
“If you put Bryant’s and Saban’s names on the stadium, you’re signaling to the world that we had the two greatest football coaches in college football history at one school.”