'Bama has championship hopes for new coach Saban

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Nick Saban couldn't escape his college roots, so he quit trying.

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Saban was introduced as Alabama coach on Thursday, touting his championship aspirations and citing his love of college football as a reason for taking a pay cut to leave the Miami Dolphins.

In other words, he said the things Crimson Tide fans most wanted to hear.

"My heart's here. I love it here," he said. "I like to affect people, and that's why I'm here. This is obviously one of the best places in the country to have an opportunity to do that."

Taking over a program with a rich tradition led by the late coach Bear Bryant, who won five national titles, Saban refused to dwell in the past.

"It's what you do now," he said.

His resume features the one thing Alabama fans hunger for most: A national title. His "championship credentials" -- as athletic director Mal Moore put it -- are why the Tide was willing to offer a reported eight-year deal worth an estimated $32 million plus incentives, the richest in college football.

"I know there's tremendous expectations here," Saban said. "I can tell you that, however you feel about it, I have even higher expectations for what we want to accomplish. I want to win every game we play."

Nick Saban's college record (91-42-1 at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU) can speak for itself. (AP)

Alabama hasn't won the league or even the Western Division since 1999 under Mike DuBose. The Tide's latest national title -- its sixth -- came in 1992 under Gene Stallings. Alabama has had four losing seasons since '97.

"His teams always play with confidence and pride and I know that in order to win a national championship, a team has to be mentally as well as physically tough," said Moore, who played and coached under Bryant. "Coach Saban's teams have always possessed those qualities."