Shane Gillis goes viral for Nick Saban ‘Alabama Jones’ College GameDay dig before Indiana vs Notre Dame
College GameDay took an awkward turn Friday night as comedian Shane Gillis clashed with Nick Saban in the buildup to Indiana vs Notre Dame – not that college football fans were complaining.
Gillis, a big Notre Dame fan, joined Pat McAfee on the show with ESPN in South Bend for the big game and didn’t miss his chance to taunt former Alabama coach Saban.
Speaking to McAfee about his hopes for Notre Dame, Gillis said the showdown ‘felt different’ because: ‘Now that everybody can pay their players Notre Dame has a shot. Not just the SEC and Coach Saban.’
McAfee appeared to enjoy the dig at Saban, giving Gillis a fist bump. And the 37-year-old wasn’t done there.
Later on, back at the studio by the field, McAfee reminded Gills of his comments in front of Saban.
‘You called him a cheater earlier,’ McAfee said, before Gillis replied mocking Saban’s appearance.
Shane Gillis repeatedly mocked Nick Saban during his Friday appearance on College GameDay
Gillis called the 72-year-old Saban ‘Alabama Jones’ for wearing his hat at Friday’s game
‘I don’t think the SEC payed players ever. I’m joking – is this not a fun show? Is this a serious show? Alabama Jones is very serious. Get the whip, Indy,’ he said, referencing a hat Saban was wearing that resembled Indiana Jones.
‘I do believe in integrity,’ Saban said, before aiming a thinly-veiled dig back at Gillis.
‘I always tried to run the program that way, so that players had a chance to be more successful in life.
‘That was how we cheated. We developed players.’
As the panel laughed, Gillis apologized and McAfee pointed at him and said: ‘Bad guy! Bad guy!’.
But the fans watching on from home were loving the tension between Saban and Gillis.
‘Seeing how mad Shane Gillis just made Nick Saban — while Nick was wearing that hat — is the peak of comedy,’ one fan said on X.
Another wrote: ‘Incredible TV moment. Just when I didn’t think I could love Shane Gillis more – he went and called the GOAT “Alabama Jones”. Coach Saban answered it perfectly too.’
A different comment said: ‘Shane Gillis calling Saban “Alabama Jones” made me snort laugh,’ while another fan picked up on the tension between the two men.
‘You just know Nick Saban hates Shane Gillis’ vibe,’ they wrote.
McAfee himself seemed to enjoy the moment too – tweeting it out with the caption: ‘You’re a bad guy, Shane Gillis.’
Saban stepped away as Alabama coach earlier this year at the age of 72 after 17 seasons.
He won seven national championships and coached more Heisman winners than anybody else.
