SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 39

(By Senators Beach, Caputo, Ihlenfeld, Lindsay, Phillips, Hamilton, Stollings, Unger, and Jeffries)

[Introduced March 19, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways erect signs at the Marion County borders on I-79 entering Marion County at (39°27'00.8"N) (80°10'33.8"W), and (39°30'27.6"N) (80°07'59.7"W), stating “Birthplace of Alabama Coach Nick Saban”.

Whereas, Nicholas Lou Saban Jr., was born on October 31, 1951, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to Nicholas and Mary Saban; and

Whereas, Nicholas Lou Saban Jr., known throughout his life as “Nick”, attended Monongah High School where he won the 1967 2A State Championship in football as a quarterback alongside United States Senator Joe Manchin; and

Whereas, Upon graduation from Monongah High School, Nick Saban would attend Kent State University on a football scholarship as a starting defensive back for the Golden Flashes from 1970 to 1973; and

Whereas, After completing his bachelor’s degree in business, Nick Saban would go on to complete his master’s degree in sports administration from Kent State, while working as an assistant coach for the Golden Flashes; and

Whereas, Upon graduation, Nick Saban would be hired as a graduate assistant for Kent State, later serving as an assistant coach at Syracuse in 1977, West Virginia from 1978 -1979, Ohio State from 1980 - 1981, Navy in 1982, Michigan State from 1983 to 1987, and the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1988; and

Whereas, Nick Saban would be head coach job at Toledo in 1988, where he found quick success which would lead to an offer from the Cleveland Browns of the NFL to become a defensive coordinator for the 1990 season; and

Whereas, After four years in Cleveland, Michigan State would take Nick Saban as their head coach from 1990 to 1999; starting the 1999 season, Nick Saban would become the head coach of Louisiana State University where he would win his first National Championship in the 2003 season and two South Eastern Conference Championships; and

Whereas, in 2004, Nick Saban would leave Louisiana State University, to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the 2005 season, and after a 15-17 record, Nick Saban would be released from Miami; and

Whereas, Nick Saban would be hired by the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 3, 2007, which would lead to six National Championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020) and seven Eastern Conference Championships (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020); and

Whereas, Nick Saban has a wife, Kristen Saban of 49 years who first saw Nick at a Pop Warner game in Fairmont, and two adopted children, Nicholas and Kristen Saban; and

Whereas, Nick Saban would call on Alabama high schools to help West Virginia schools affected by the 2016 West Virginia floods that took place on June 23-24; and

Whereas, Nick Saban’s representation of West Virginia on a national stage should be commemorated by his birthplace being honored on signs on I-79 entering the county; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at the Marion County borders on I-79 entering Marion County at (39°27'00.8"N) (80°10'33.8"W), and (39°30'27.6"N) (80°07'59.7"W), stating “Birthplace of Alabama Coach Nick Saban”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “Birthplace of Alabama Coach Nick Saban”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.