Nick Saban calls Alabama ‘winners’ despite loss to Ohio State

Nick Saban was uncharacteristically positive and upbeat despite his team’s loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday.

Saban said multiple times that he was proud of his 12-2 team, which fell short of its goal of winning a national championship.

“I’m very proud of this team,” Saban said. “This team excelled all year long. … I’m very proud of what they accomplished in winning the SEC as well as winning 12 football games in a very tough conference.”

Even though his team lost 42-35, Saban called them a bunch of winners.

“We’re very disappointed in the outcome of this game … but we obviously didn’t do the things we needed to do as well as we needed to do them. But I think there’s a lot of winners on this team, and I don’t think you necessarily have to get a trophy to be a winner. And I do think there are a lot of guys on this team who are winners and who did a fantastic job for this team.”

Saban talking about trophies and winners? Saban being positive and upbeat? Break out the juice boxes and orange slices! This was so unusual.