Denise Goodrum

Dear Coach Saban, My mourning period is over and I wanted to take my time writing this to convey what you and Miss Terry have meant to Tuscaloosa, Alabama Nation and a poor kid from the wrong side of the railroad tracks. I grew up in a small Illinois town just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. I was a barely above average 3-sport athlete who had two offers to play baseball. Humble means and 3 mile walks to and from practices were what I knew. I joined the Marines and ended up at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. At the same time, the Big Red packed up and moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Cardinals. Coach Stallings then took the Alabama job and that’s where I caught the bug. Winning the National Championship in 92 by curb stomping the Canes was one of the sweetest days of my sports life to that point. Fast forward through the Mike Years and some pretty dismal football, Rita Rodriguez decided Tuscaloosa wasn’t for her, and THANK GOD she did. From afar, I watched what you accomplished at LSU and I was a tad jealous and glad you left there for Miami. And then came January 4th, 2007. It was the dawn of a new day in Alabama Nation. I was excited, as were many Bama fans, to have hope again. That hope came to fruition as the single greatest dynasty in CFB history had begun. There were some tough losses sprinkled in between those 6 National Championships. I wouldn’t trade this ride for anything in this world related to sports. Your, and Miss Terry’s dedication to the TTown community through Nicks Kids Foundation and National Championship homes is immeasurable. The way you have molded the lives of young men and women through service can’t be quantified. One thing that can be is the difference you’ve made in the lives of your players. From the Muhsin Muhammad story, to a second chance for Cam Robinson, to you walking with Najee Harris through campus in support of their efforts against racial injustice, to the second chance for Tony Mitchell and all those in between, you have forever altered the history of countless young men. Millions of life lessons and millions of NFL and business dollars made through the efforts of you, Miss Terry and the coaches you have brought along for the ride. It was a pleasure watching you coach, scream, break headsets and chew ass on the sideline. Lane deserved every single one he got. What was even more pleasurable was watching you ease up a bit toward the end. Some called it getting soft and some said it was because you were asked to. It doesn’t matter why, it matters that you showed even more, your willingness to adapt and overcome the things that prevented success in life, on and off the field. Thank you for your time, your effort, your dedication, your toughness, your pride, your process. I will be forever grateful for having witnessed and been a small part of the Saban Dynasty. Best wishes to you and Miss Terry in “retirement.” I’m sure you’re still working behind the scenes on the transition for Coach DeBoer and in your personal business endeavors. Thanks Coach and Roll Tide!