Nick Saban wrote one of several character reference letters that were submitted to a judge by Terrion Arnold, following his arrest on multiple felony charges.
Arnold was granted a $1 million bond after a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday. The Detroit Lions released him shortly after he was granted a bond, despite a judge allowing him to work if he did make his bond.
Here is what Saban’s full letter said:
Dear Judge Sabella,
My name is Nick Saban, and I have spent decades as a football coach working with young men from diverse and often difficult backgrounds. In that time, I have had the privilege of watching hundreds of athletes grow not just as players, but as men. I write this letter because of the exceptional character I witnessed in Terrion Arnold over the more than six years I have known him.
I first met Terrion when he joined my program in 2021. From the beginning, he stood out – not only because of his athletic ability, but because of who he was off the field. Based on my experiences with Terrion, I’ve always believed he leads with genuine care for the people around him.
Over the years, I have welcomed Terrion into my home and around my family. He has consistently treated my family and my staff with respect, humility, and kindness. In all the time I have known him, he never once gave me cause to question his conduct, his integrity, or his respect for others. I don’t ever recall him being involved in any behavior that would be described as aggressive or irresponsible.
Based on my experiences with Terrion, I remain committed to supporting him. While I’m not overly familiar with or educated on the charges he is facing, and understand the seriousness of his situation before the Court, I would respectfully ask the Court to take into account my experience with Terrion, his character, history and the positive impact he had on our program.
