BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Part of a new book on college football sheds light on the relationship between former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
Armen Keteyian, a New York Times best-selling author and journalist, and John Talty, a national college football writer for 247Sports and sports editor for Alabama Media Group, have written a book, "The Price: What it Takes to Win in College Football's Era of Chaos," that details college football's next chapter in the age of NIL deals and conference realignments.
Keteyian recently came on the "CBS 42 Morning News" to talk about the book, where discussed Saban's hand in the careers of many SEC coaches, including Kiffin.
"I think what Nick did and what Nick offered Lane at that period of time was a lifeline," Keteyian said. "Lane left the University of Tennessee in a really difficult departure, and then what happened at USC. Nick was there to give him a lifeline when he needed it, as he's done with a lot of other head coaches who he's helped over the years."
Keteyian said the book also explores about much broader issues in college football, as well as other coaches and one former Alabama commit.
"There's so much in there. There's two chapters on Nick, there's a chapter on Kirby Smart at Georgia, there's a chapter on Jimbo Fisher, 'The Rise and Fall of Jimbo,' there's a chapter obviously on Jimmy Sexton," Keteyian said. "There's a great chapter on Julian Sayin who obviously was at Alabama and has now transferred to Ohio State. It's really a heartbreaking chapter in a lot of ways because the reason Julian was in Tuscaloosa was because of Coach Saban."
Saban helped lead Alabama to six national championships during his 17-year tenure. Keteyian said his work at Alabama was one of the biggest impacts on a college program he's ever seen.
"He's incredibly deserving, they should name the city, I think, after him," he said. "He's an incredible football coach, he's as honest and as direct a person I've dealt with in the business. In the modern era, I don't think there's a greater football coach ever. You could put him on the Mount Rushmore of the greatest coaches of all time."
"When I did the original stories on Nick, I think the out-of-state, in-state ratio was 65% in-state, 35% out of state, that's now pretty much flipped...Not only did Nick have a great impact on the football program, but he had a great impact on the University of Alabama overall. And he may be the single greatest hire that any university has made as a football coach as far as impact in modern sports history. So it's a rich honor and it's well, well, well deserved," he concluded.
Alabama plans to rename its football field in honor of its iconic former coach. The dedication of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium will take place at halftime of the Crimson Tide's football game versus USF on Saturday.