Nick Saban reportedly got upset after Shane Gillis' ESPN appearance.

Alabama coach Nick Saban was not amused by jokes about his cheating at Alabama made by comedian Kevin Gillis.

Nick Saban reportedly got upset after Shane Gillis' ESPN appearance.
Nick Saban reportedly got upset after Shane Gillis' ESPN appearance.

On ESPN's "College GameDay," comedian Shane Gillis shared a heated conversation he had with legendary college football coach Nick Saban after the former accused the latter's Alabama Crimson Tide of cheating while he was there.

On the "Talk of the Town" podcast, Gillis discussed the circumstances that led to the comedian's outburst towards Saban.

Saban's "College GameDay" colleagues Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit were informed by Gillis that he believed Alabama had dominated college football due to their use of NIL deals to pay players before it was legal.

Comic Shane Gillis
Standup comic Shane Gillis will start a global area tour in January 2025.  (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation)

After I made that statement, we had to enter the stadium to take our seats, and I arrived, and Saban greeted me with, 'I heard what you said,'" Gillis stated. "And I responded, 'Holy s--t,' and then McAfee and Herbstreit chimed in, saying, 'He's just messing with you, man.'

"He enjoys playing pranks on men. It's like he's just messing with you, and I thought, 'Okay, I'll mess with him back.'"

Saban was not pleased with Gillis' behavior at the Notre Dame-Indiana College Football Playoff game on Dec. 20, as the comedian continued to make jokes despite the negative reception.

"Gilis said on the broadcast that he was just joking around and didn't believe the SEC paid players. Is this show fun or serious? Alabama Jones looks very serious."

Nick Saban on a television set
Nick Saban hosts the ESPN College GameDay show before the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. (Michael Clubb/South Bend Trubube / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Saban was wearing a hat that resembled the one worn by Indiana Jones, hence the reference to "Alabama Jones."

Saban had a retort to Gillis, and he was certainly being serious.

"Saban stated, "I believe in integrity and always aimed to run the program in a way that gave players a higher chance of success in life. However, our success in the NFL, with 61 players in the league, was achieved through cheating. We developed players.""

Gillis claimed that Saban was upset after McAfee and Herbstreit suggested talking to him.

Afterward, he responded with, "You believe the SEC's dominance is due to our cheating? That's nonsense." He became enraged at me.

Comic Shane Gillis
Standup comic Shane Gillis will start a global area tour in January 2025.  (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation)

In Tuscaloosa, Saban earned six national titles, transforming the Crimson Tide into a dominant college football force. Later, he guided the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Champions Game following the 2003 season.

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by Scott Thompson

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