Often a critic, Nick Saban shows gratitude to Alabama student section

In his nearly two decades at the helm in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban hasn't been afraid to call out Crimson Tide fans for what he sees as a lack of appreciation for his players. Empty seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium, especially in the student section during the second halves of blowouts, have earned Saban's ire for years.

But in Saturday's 34-20 win over rival Tennessee, the Crimson Tide faithful stayed for the full four quarters, even after a rough first half left Alabama (7-1, 5-0 SEC) down two touchdowns.

Crowd noise proved to be a huge factor in the second-half comeback, contributing to multiple pre-snap penalties for Tennessee (5-2, 2-2), which aligned perfectly with Saban's game plan.

"Saban called for the fans to make an impact on his Thursday night radio show, and the 100,000+ people in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon delivered," Austin Hannon wrote for Sports Illustrated's Bama Central.

So how did Saban show his appreciation for a job well done? He offered the cheering students a round of applause of his own.