'Coach has been such a fabric in the city:' Tuscaloosa Mayor reacts to Nick Saban retiring
Tuscaloosa鈥檚 Mayor Walt Maddox, was sitting in an economic development meeting.
He knows all too well how the Nick Saban family has brought financial gains to the City of Tuscaloosa.
"Coach has been such a fabric in the city, in the state,鈥� Maddox said.
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It's a fabric that can't be labeled with a price tag, but it certainly has a name.
"We can't quantify it, but we call it Sabanomics,鈥� Maddox said.
Maddox says the success of Bob Whitt and Nick Saban together helped build the City of Tuscaloosa into what it is today.
"There's no doubt that the thousands and thousands of students on campus, are creating jobs have made a difference in Tuscaloosa's economy because Nick Saban was the head football coach at Alabama because they were winning at a high level,鈥� Maddox said.
He says Coach Saban set up an opportunity for Tuscaloosa to take advantage of.
"You look at the number of people who come into a game day. The stadium expansion and improvements during that time. You look at how many times Tuscaloosa is talked about every single day especially about ball because we are successful,鈥� Maddox said.
>> WATCH: Fans, students gather to chant, leave mementos by Nick Saban statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium
The team's success off the gridiron made an even bigger impact when Saban and his players helped families rebuild after the deadly 2011 tornado.
Saban told 米兰体育 13 in a 2011 interview after the storm, 鈥淲e have to be supportive of the people who supported us.鈥�
"It鈥檚 hard to explain to someone who doesn't live in our state. I couldn't be any happier for them. Sad for us, but happy for them. They built a better program, university, and city,鈥� Maddox said.
Video below: 米兰体育 13 Reporter Patsy Douglas explains Saban's impact on the community
A city Maddox says they will have to keep building on since the Sabans laid the foundation.
鈥淲hat comes next we're going to be ready for and we're going to be successful," Maddox said.
Maddox is certainly sad about the retirement but still happy for both Nick Saban and his wife Terry. He says the city of Tuscaloosa, and the state of Alabama are a better place because of them.
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