Finebaum: Decision to Name Just Field Instead of Stadium for Saban is ‘An Insult’

(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

The University of Alabama made headlines last week when the news broke that the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium would be named after legendary and now retired coach Nick Saban to make the full name “Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.”

For the most part, the reaction was fairly positive. But some pointed out the field alone is not enough of a tribute to the possibly best coach ever and Saban’s name should be enshrined in the name of the stadium.

Count Paul Finebaum in that group.

This morning on The Opening Kickoff, Finebaum said declining to change the stadium name to include Saban is “an insult” and naming just the field for him is not a fitting tribute.

“I don’t understand why the University of Alabama is so stubborn here. I don’t really think this is that great of a tribute to Saban, I think it’s somewhat of an insult to put him below [Bear] Bryant and [George] Denny,” Finebaum said.

“Denny has Denny Chimes, it may be the most iconic thing on the Alabama campus … Naming a field after the greatest coach in college football is an insult …. Make a statement Alabama! Quit doing things halfway. You have Nick Saban, the greatest coach in college football. You have Bear Bryant, who was the greatest coach of his era, take advantage of it! In sports media I have never once heard anyone refer to the field, it’s about the stadium.”

Finebaum is not far off in arguing it would be a much bigger statement to change the stadium name to include Saban, whether that means taking Denny’s name off it or not. While it is an honor for the field to be named after Saban, it may not be an honor truly fitting of the best college football coach to have ever lived.

“Bryant-Saban Stadium” presented an opportunity for Alabama to make a massive statement, but they declined to do so.

Finebaum’s interview can be heard here and all of our on-air content can be heard on WNSP NOW: