The forecast wasn’t supposed to rain much, but that slim chance was given to Alabama and Georgia football fans during the first hour of ESPN’s “College GameDay” on the quad on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

And if you know any college football fans, they don’t feel or recognize elements just hours before their team takes the field. Or when a legendary coach like Nick Saban takes the stage.

If they could have showered him with roses, they certainly would have. When the seven-time national title winner appeared on the set of the legendary pregame show, fans were thrilled.

Saban, who retired in January after 17 seasons as the Crimson Tide’s head coach, typically arrives in a motorcade, takes a seat and races through a crowded section before setting off again to continue toward the big one to prepare the game he had to coach. Previously tense for good reason, Saban appeared relaxed and grateful for the adoration on Saturday.

The coach, now a TV football analyst, waved and gave a thumbs up to the crowds streaming down the quad, with Denny Chimes in the background. He laughed heartily with colleagues Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit and explained the college football landscape with the rest of the panel, just as ready to talk about Saturday’s schedule as he would practice against Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs later that evening.

But new Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer came to the set during the opening hour and sat right next to his predecessor as Saban praised the work the new guy had already done before his biggest game yet in Tuscaloosa.

Almost a third of the way through the show, the sun began to poke through the cloud cover covering the Capstone, and the hype became even more real after the longest bye week in recent memory. Tensions would grow even greater as increased security loomed as Bryant-Denny Stadium welcomed a former president, but fans seemed comfortable for a while. They saw their coach in a mutually happy place – in a different role but at home as they ushered in the new era together.

Photos from the “College GameDay” scene can be found in the gallery above or below.