In a surprising turn of events, legendary football coach Nick Saban found himself facing an unexpected hurdle during his first appearance as a member of the press at SEC Media Days. Saban, who recently joined ESPN after announcing his retirement from coaching Alabama, was initially denied entry due to a failure to wear his press badge.

The mishap unfolded when Saban arrived at the event without his credential, a requirement for access. Admitting his oversight, Saban shared his surprise and admitted that he had never worn a credential in his entire coaching career spanning 17 years. The former Alabama football coach had to return to his room to retrieve his badge before gaining entry.

During an interview on ESPN's "Get Up," Saban expressed his astonishment at the situation, stating, "It's a little different. I've never worn a credential in my life. I was always, for 17 years, able to get into SEC Media Days without a credential. I had to go back to the room today to get my credential to get in."

Despite the unfortunate incident, Saban mentioned that he did not see anyone capturing the interaction, dashing host Mike Greenberg's hope of witnessing the college football legend getting "carded" on camera.

Saban's new role at ESPN will see him join the team for "College GameDay" this season. Expressing his enthusiasm, Saban stated, "ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to join their team. I'll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans."

Nick Saban's storied coaching career includes an impressive record of seven national titles, the most in college football history. While his first championship came with the LSU Tigers, Saban went on to claim six additional rings during his tenure with the University of Alabama. He led the Crimson Tide to seven SEC titles and four national titles in the last decade, solidifying their reputation as one of the most dominant programs in the country.

Following Saban's retirement, Alabama has announced the hiring of Kalen DeBoer from Washington as his successor. The university hopes to continue their successful legacy under new leadership.

Despite his brief encounter with a credential mishap, Nick Saban remains a highly respected figure in the world of college football, and fans eagerly await his insights and expertise as he embarks on this new chapter of his career with ESPN's "College GameDay."