Nick Saban. Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Georgia Tech coach uses dark Nick Saban quote to keep his team focused

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 7:37 PM ET

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have been one of the better stories across college football this season, but coach Brent Key is not letting his players buy into the hype.

Key’s Yellow Jackets are off to a 3-0 start following an upset win over Clemson last Saturday, moving them into the Top 25 for just the second time since 2015. However, Key is a former Nick Saban assistant, and he had his former boss in mind when delivering a stark message to his players about handling their success.

Brent Key channels his former boss, Nick Saban

“Coach Saban used to tell us that more people die on the way down from Mount Everest than on the way up. You can’t relax,” Key told reporters Wednesday.

Brent Key on how his players have refocused and moved on after the upset win over Clemson and being ranked in the top 25.

"Coach Saban use to tell us more people die on the way down from Mount Everest than on the way up and you can't relax." pic.twitter.com/VTbKp1Sg5u
— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) September 17, 2025

Key was an offensive line coach at Alabama from 2016 to 2018. That time with Saban definitely rubbed off on him, perhaps in more ways than one. Saban, of course, was famous for desperately trying to keep his teams from buying into their own hype too much. Key is now facing the same challenge at Georgia Tech, albeit with lower expectations.

Now in his fourth season at Georgia Tech, Key is 21-16 overall and has led the Yellow Jackets to two consecutive bowl game appearances. If they keep winning, bigger things might be in the team’s future in 2025.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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