Pete Golding tells funny Nick Saban story before Ole Miss vs Miami in CFP Fiesta Bowl
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All four coaches left in the College Football Playoff have a connection to legendary former Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding told a funny story that was show on “College GameDay” about coaching for Saban before the Rebels’ game against Miami (12-2) in the CFP Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. Golding coached at Alabama from 2018-22 as defensive coordinator.
Golding told ESPN that one Friday in the offseason he and current Texas coach Steve Sarkisian were almost caught on the golf course by Saban.
“We were on hole 11, which is a par 3,” Golding said. “We looked down to the right and were like holy (expletive). We look over there and it’s Saban.”
Things got interesting though when Sarkisian hit a hole-in-one. Golding said it was Sarkisian’s first hole-in-one in his life. But because Saban was about 120 yards away, the celebration was a minimal one.
“We were like mute,” Golding said. “We were jumping up, but nobody is high fiving. Nobody was yelling. You couldn’t make it up. That goes to show the fear that coach Saban will put into grown people.”
In the College Football Playoff, Dan Lanning, Mario Cristobal, Pete Golding and Curt Cignetti have all served as assistants under Saban 🔥
Each of Saban’s disciples talk about their experiences and favorite memories working under the coach considered the greatest of all time. pic.twitter.com/mROOtgKhqN
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 8, 2026
Saban retired as the Alabama coach after the 2023 season and is now a commentator on ESPN’s “CollegeGameDay.” He picked Miami to beat Ole Miss before kickoff.
Golding was promoted to Ole Miss’ coach at the end of the 2025 regular season after Lane Kiffin left for LSU. It’s his first time as a head coach, and the Rebels are 2-0 in the CFP under Golding with wins against Tulane and Georgia.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Nick Saban almost caught Pete Golding, Steve Sarkisian golfing
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