Thanksgiving with the Saban’s

Crimson Tide football players are busy guys this week - they only get Thanksgiving day off to mark the holiday because of Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

Many out of town players can’t make it home and back that fast. 

Instead, they’ll be sharing turkey dinner with Coach and Mrs. Saban.

It’s one of her favorite traditions.

“Last year I ended up with 32 players at our house,” Terry Saban smiles.

A low stress moment of fun with some of the most important people in her husband’s life.

“I move my furniture out of the way, and I put two long buffet tables, light a fire, make it cozy and the house smells good,” she says.

So how much Thanksgiving dinner will a football team eat?

The Saban’s are serving five hams, four turkeys - plus 100 pounds each of stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potato pie.

If there’s any left over, the players get doggie bags to take back to the dorms.

“I have help cooking - I’m not taking that credit,” Saban laughs.

When dinner is over, playtime begins. 

“Afterward they play pool and we take a walk down to the boat dock and play Wii,” says Saban.

Just one of the many differences between coaching in the NFL versus college, one of those little details the Saban’s missed.

“Certainly, in a way, they’re like your kids. You kiss them, you hug them, you discipline them and you know you’re eventually trying to prepare them to leave into the real world,” Saban says.

But Saban and her husband do respect a professional line between themselves and the players too.

You can bet, come Friday, it will be back to business - preparing for the Iron Bowl.