Saban to ESPN on ‘GameDay’
Nick Saban is joining ESPN’s “College GameDay,” the long-running Saturday pregame road show he appeared on as a guest so frequently during his 17 seasons as the University of Alabama football program’s head coach. The network announced Wednesday that Saban will be an on-set analyst for “GameDay,” joining host Rece Davis and regulars Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee. Saban, 72, announced his retirement as the Crimson Tide’s coach on Jan. 10, ending a 28-year career in college coaching that included seven national championships. He won six titles with Alabama and one with LSU. “ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to join their team,” Saban said in a release announcing the move. “I’ll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans.” The network said Saban will also be part of ESPN’s NFL draft coverage and make appearances at the Southeastern Conference’s football media days event in July. His first assignment will be announced at a later date, according to the network. “Nick Saban is a singular, iconic presence in college football. He is also an extremely gifted communicator, who will immediately add even more credibility, authority and entertainment value to ESPN, including our esteemed College GameDay show,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the release.
BASKETBALL
› HARTFORD, Conn. — Aaliyah Edwards scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the 11th-ranked University of Connecticut women’s basketball team routed Seton Hall on Wednesday night, 67-34, giving Huskies coach Geno Auriemma
his 1,200th career victory. Freshman Ashlynn Shade hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points, and Paige Bueckers had 11 of her 13 in the second half for the Huskies (20-4, 12-0 Big East), who reached 20 wins for the 31st consecutive season. Auriemma joins former Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski
(1,202) and Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer
(1,206) as the only coaches in Division I basketball history with 1,200 wins. Edwards opened the game with a layup, the Huskies scored the first seven points and never trailed.