On Friday, two legendary coaches representing the state of Alabama were inducted into the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame.
Former University of Alabama coach Nick Saban and former Auburn football coach turned U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) were two of a four-member group inducted into the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame prior to the game's kickoff between Indiana and Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Since 2002, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame has honored former players, coaches and contributors, as well as staff and volunteers, who have had a significant impact on the bowl game during its 58-year history.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame wrote of Saban as follows:
Nick Saban is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, compiling a career record of 292-71-1 over 28 seasons. Saban built championship-caliber programs at every stop in his career, beginning with LSU, where he captured two SEC titles, the 2003 BCS National Championship and three bowl victories, including an early career Peach Bowl win over Georgia Tech in 2000. His legacy reached its pinnacle at Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to six national championships, nine SEC titles and 16 postseason wins over 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa. Under Saban's leadership, Alabama made an appearance in the 2016 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where the Crimson Tide defeated Washington to secure a spot in the CFP National Championship Game. Across his career, Saban coached four Heisman Trophy winners, developed numerous All-Americans and first-round NFL Draft selections, and earned multiple National Coach of the Year honors, including The Dodd Trophy in 2014.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame wrote of Tuberville as follows:
Tommy Tuberville compiled a 159–99 overall record during his distinguished head coaching career, leading programs at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. Tuberville first earned national prominence at Auburn, where he guided the Tigers to eight consecutive bowl appearances, including five New Year's Day bowls, a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl appearance in 2001 and an overtime victory in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Clemson. He captured the SEC title during a perfect 13–0 season in 2004, capped by a Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech, and earned five National Coach of the Year honors for that campaign. Known for his aggressive "Riverboat Gambler" style play calling, Tuberville led Auburn to six straight wins over rival Alabama, coached 19 NFL Draft picks and eight All-Americans, and developed numerous All-SEC standouts. His sustained success and big-game prowess cemented his reputation as one of the premier coaches in the Southeastern Conference with a lasting impact on the sport of college football.
The two others inducted on Friday were former Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen and Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president Gary Stokan. With the four new inductees, there are now 71 members in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame, including players such as Mike Singletary, Reggie White and Jim Kelly, as well as coaches such as Bobby Dodd, Vince Dooley and Lou Holtz, according to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame.
The two coaches are not new to halls of fame. In December, Saban was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Tuberville, who is on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame, was recently inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
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