Coaches almost always shake hands at midfield after a football game, and they almost always find something nice to say to each other. It's usually a pleasant ritual and nothing more.

But when the coach of the defending national champions meets the coach who's won more games than anyone else in major college history, there's nothing common about it.

I followed Joe Paterno to midfield as the final seconds drained from the clock on Alabama's 24-3 win over Penn State. I wanted to hear what he and Nick Saban had to say to one another.

For a memory. For posterity.

I was standing right behind Paterno as they met. It was impossible to hear their words with the naked ear because the Alabama band and fans were deep in the middle of another rendition of "Rammer Jammer."

The home folks had been gracious to Paterno and his team all night to that point. It would've been nice of them to finish what they started by skipping their traditional taunt on this occasion. They hit the wrong note on this one, but I digress.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to hear Paterno and Saban live, I stuck my handy-dandy digital voice recorder in the general vicinity of Paterno's left ear, hoping to pick up their exchange electronically.

I listened to the playback in the postgame media room, waiting for Saban to arrive. Couldn't make out every word over the band, but I did hear Saban say to Paterno, "You're the best. The best."

I asked the Alabama coach to share what he said to the legend. He did and said a whole lot more.

"I just told him he had a good football team and he's the best, one of the best ever in college football.

"I got asked the question this week: 'Do you think this'll be the last time you coach against Joe Paterno?' I said, 'I got asked that question 15 years ago at Michigan State. I don't think it warrants an answer.'

"In his 45 years at Penn State, there's probably not a classier program, a classier gentleman, a better person and a guy who's affected more lives in a positive way in terms of the class of the program that they have, the people they always seem to be able to produce, and I know Joe has given a lot back to the institution.

"I feel like he's someone that we all as coaches - I don't feel like I'm a young coach anymore, but in comparison, all of us young coaches should try to do more of."

I know. Saban got a bit lost in his praise there at the end, but there was no mistaking his feelings.

All I can add is ditto.