FOLEY, Alabama — Wherever Alabama football coach Nick Saban goes a crowd follows.

On Saturday, Saban arrived at Foley's Ivan Jones Stadium for the 2007 Football Classic and was met by members of the Elephant Club, fans, former greats like Kenny Stabler and several RV's flying Alabama flags.

Saban's ardent recruiting schedule also included a stop at a Pro-Am golf tournament in Hoover, where the Alabama faithful showed their support as Saban faced off against fellow SEC head coaches Steve Spurrier and Tommy Tuberville.

"Everything has been great," Saban told Gulf Coast Newspapers in an exclusive interview Saturday. "We have to take it one step at a time. First it was recruiting for 30 days, trying to put a class together. Then going through the offseason program, trying get the players acclimated to what were doing. In spring practice we were teaching new systems to everyone, and now we're in spring recruiting. We are getting a good jump on next season's recruiting, and it's just one thing after another."

As the talent pool has grown in Baldwin and Mobile counties, Saban recalled his days at LSU when he hand picked players out of the Gulf — a feat he is trying to repeat at Alabama.

"I think going back to LSU days, we have been impressed with the football players and quality of programs, the coaching in this Mobile area," he said. "Certainly this year is no different in terms of the number and the quality of players that they have and the good teams they have here."

Alabama has already received a verbal commitment from St. Paul's tailback Ivan Machett, and if local phenom Julio Jones chooses to play for The University of Alabama it could prove a huge stride for the program.

With so many schools showing interest in local talent, Alabama sets themselves apart by offering much more than a four-year scholarship.

"It's Alabama," Saban said. "They can be home whenever they want to be and none of the other people around have as much red or anything else in terms of support.

"I think that translates in terms of a lifetime commitment where it's not about four years of college. It's about four years in the rest of your life, after your done here and how people can help you launch your career and support you in your career after football."

Saban's 2007 signing class included two Gulf Coast natives in wide receiver Brandon Gibson from UMS-Wright and Chris Lett, a defensive back out of Pensacola High School.

Saturday marked the official end-of-spring for many football programs, and before the Saban entourage headed back to Tuscaloosa, the coach revealed his immediate plans.

"When we go back we have to do some work on next year's opponents," Saban said. "There are a lot of things to do and it's a work in progress, so we are going to take it one day at a time."