ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 5: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on before the SEC Championship game against the Florida Gators at the Georgia Dome on December 5, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Here's what strategy Nick Saban said he learned from Patriots coach Bill Belichick

From Bill Belichick to Nick Saban.

As one of the best college football coaches in the game, Nick Saban spent his younger years learning from one of the best at the professional level, Bill Belichick.

While the Alabama head coach spoke to the media on Tuesday, he divulged some of the advice the Patriots head coach gave him during their time in Cleveland.

"I really do have a really grand appreciation for the media and what they do because it creates a tremendous amount of interest in college football, a lot of positive reinforcement for players who do a great job," Saban said, via Pro Football Talk. "Even though sometimes I maybe put on a front to try to protect our organization, our team, the people involved on our team — I'm talking about coaches, players, everybody in the organization — I learned from Bill Belichick a long time ago you don't want to give too much information out about anything, so sometimes I think that comes off as a lack of appreciation. But, really, I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for what everyone here does for college football in promoting the game as well as the players who play it."

Saban coached under Belichick as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator. As a college coach, Saban typically keeps matters close to the vest and has developed LSU and Alabama into dominant football programs over his tenure, winning four national championships.