Don't try to reach Nick Saban by phone. His line has been tied up since the College Football Playoff Selection Committee's controversial determinations Sunday.
The Alabama Crimson Tide head coach said he received more than 250 random calls after his team was announced as the No. 4 team in the final CFP rankings to earn a berth in the last four-team College Football Playoff, according to TideIllustrated's Tony Tsoukalas. Alabama earned the spot ahead of Florida State, the undefeated Atlantic Coast Conference champion that lost star quarterback Jordan Travis to injury.
Where have most of the calls been from? Florida, Saban says.
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Aflac
"I've had probably over 250 anonymous callers today, calling me every name in the book, talking about how we shouldn't be in the playoff," Saban told his players during Alabama's awards banquet Sunday night. "So we still have naysayers out there. We still have players who don't believe in us."
"Most of these people are from Florida," Saban said. "I don't know how in the hell they got my number, but it is out there."
Nick Saban was hounded by anonymous callers after his number was leaked following Alabama's playoff berth.
???I?ve had probably over 250 anonymous callers today, calling me every name in the book, talking about how we shouldn?t be in the playoff.?https://t.co/vSz9K7OcMV
— Tony Tsoukalas (@Tony_Tsoukalas) December 4, 2023
Alabama beat No. 1 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game on Saturday, a win that helped it join Michigan, Washington and Texas in the CFP. Later that night, Florida State escaped the ACC Championship Game with a tight, ugly win over Louisville.
On Sunday, FSU head coach Mike Norvell blasted the CFP Selection Committee over its decision to leave the Seminoles out of the top four. Florida State fans have been very vocal about their disapproval since the committee's announcement.
Regardless of fan opinion, it isn't cool to blow up the phone of a head coach who had nothing to do with the decision, especially one like Nick Saban.
