Nick Saban Details Concern About Mountaineers to Pat McAfee

Just as he has all season, Pat McAfee asked Nick Saban about West Virginia during a segment of his show on Friday ahead of the Mountaineers’ first Big 12 game. In summary, Saban is getting concerned while McAfee hasn’t lost hope yet.

“I’ve picked West Virginia every week and I’m a little upset with the way they lost that game last week,” said Saban.

"I've picked West Virginia every week and I'm a little upset with the way they lost that game last week..

I'm happy to see you haven't lost hope" 😂😂

Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/iyUQV4JcRp

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 20, 2024

While McAfee couldn’t defend WVU blowing a 10-point lead late in the Backyard Brawl to Pitt, he did remind Saban that what happens during conference play is what really matters.

The only thing left for Saban to do was to say that he’s happy McAfee hasn’t lost hope.

Saban’s disappointment likely stems from growing up a WVU fan and knowing how much losing the Backyard Brawl can hurt people across the state.

The West Virginia native who won seven national titles throughout his legendary coaching career described WVU’s rivalry with Pitt leading up to the game on Saturday.

“This is the biggest event of the year if you’re from West Virginia,” Saban said. “I grew up chanting ‘beat the hell out of Pitt’ and I’m not changing that today.”

“It was everything emotionally to everyone in the state. It was the pride of the Mountaineers. When you played Pitt, you needed to win that game,” Saban added.

At the start of the season when McAfee first brought up WVU to the retired coach, Saban made it clear he always roots for the Mountaineers.

“Look, I’m a Mountaineer. That’s where I grew up. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the fact that you played there. I coached there. And I love my state,” said Saban.

But when Saban tells McAfee he’s like all the other fans who haven’t lost hope yet, the ex WVU kicker informs the ex coach that “a lot of people have lost hope over there” and West Virginia head coach Neal Brown is feeling pressure in Morgantown and right back on the hot seat.

It’s safe to say both Saban and McAfee will be keeping tabs on how WVU responds against Kansas on Saturday.