Shawn Murphy Recalls the Day Nick Saban Shook College Football
When South Carolina linebacker Shawn Murphy walked into a team meeting last January, he had no idea he was about to witness history.
“It was a crazy day,” Murphy recalled.
January 10, 2024—the day college football’s modern GOAT, Nick Saban, shocked the world and announced his retirement after 17 legendary seasons at Alabama.
“We were the first people to know,” Murphy revealed during a recent Gamecock Club Hour interview on 107.5 The Game. “I don’t know if he talked to the staff before—he said he didn’t. It was crazy. None of us knew what was going on. We had a random team meeting. We were all thinking maybe it was to talk about how we were going to move forward for next season or something like that. But I kind of got that feeling when he started beating around the bush a little bit, trying to figure out how he was going to say it.”
For Murphy, that hesitation was telling.
“Because Coach Saban—he never beats around the bush. He’s going to tell you exactly what it is, off rip, no hesitation. And I think it was a hard day for everybody, even him.”
True to form, Saban made sure his players heard it from him first, addressing the team before the news broke to the media.
Murphy had spent two seasons under the legendary coach, experiencing firsthand what it was like to play in one of the most demanding defensive systems in college football.
“When I first got to Alabama, it was a lot,” Murphy admitted. “A lot of defense to learn, a lot of things I had to mature and develop in. But I don’t regret going there and learning how to play a very hard defense.”
The lessons Murphy learned in Tuscaloosa stuck with him, shaping his approach to the game even after transferring to Florida State for a season and now landing at South Carolina.
“Through my journey to this point, I understand a lot of different things. I understand a lot of different schemes and how to play real football. And I think Bama taught me that really well, especially under Saban. Saban has a lot of diversity within his defensive calls, and it made me very versatile in learning other things. I see a lot of similarities between what Saban did and what Coach Clayton White does now at South Carolina.“
With 201 wins, nine SEC titles, and six national championships, Saban left an indelible mark on college football.
And Murphy? He carries that stamp of approval with him to South Carolina.
According to GamecockCentral sources, Saban personally vouched for Murphy when he entered the transfer portal, giving a glowing recommendation to recruiters eyeing his former player.
“I’m thankful. I’m thankful, honestly,” Murphy said. “That’s great to hear. It kind of helps me out and leads people to respect me through his word. Because I know any suggestion from him is usually valid to anybody in the game of football, especially a defensive mind.”
Murphy understands the weight of an endorsement from the greatest coach of all time.
“Yeah, and I’m thankful. I don’t know what else to be but thankful. He’s the GOAT, and he taught me a lot. I’m forever grateful and thankful for everything he’s done for me.”
