Former Alabama analyst Butch Jones sends message to Nick Saban amid retirement news
Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones, a former Alabama analyst/assistant to head coach, sent a farewell message to Nick Saban on Thursday following the news of the legendary head coach's retirement. Jones shared a photo of himself at Alabama's facility alongside Saban and Bill Belichick. "Simply the best. The GOAT. Thank you for everything you’ve […]
Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones, a former Alabama analyst/assistant to head coach, sent a farewell message to Nick Saban on Thursday following the news of the legendary head coach's retirement.
Jones shared a photo of himself at Alabama's facility alongside Saban and Bill Belichick.
"Simply the best. The GOAT. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, my family, and for all of football at all levels," wrote Jones in the tweet.
Jones, who was the Tennessee Vols' head coach from 2013 to 2017, was an off-field assistant for three years at Alabama. He was never elevated to an on-field role, despite there being several openings during his time at Alabama. Essentially, Jones was a glorified graduate assistant.
The former Tennessee head coach drew the ire of Vols fans in 2018 after he was photographed smoking a cigar after Alabama's win against the Vols.
That moment was viewed by many as a slap in the face to Tennessee. Jones, of course, didn't change the outcome of the game (he spent five years on the Vols' sideline losing to Alabama). But he was along for the ride and searching for a photo op.
Lane Kiffin, who was the Vols' head coach for a season in 2009, didn't even pull that stunt during his three years as Alabama's offensive coordinator (which included three wins against Tennessee). It's rare that Kiffin outclasses someone…
