Alabama's National Championship Celebration Day at Bryant Denny Stadium

Nick Saban sauntered into Bryant Denny Stadium today like a rockstar accompanied by his staff, athletic director Mal Moore and his 2009 National Champion football team dressed in their new national championship dark grey sweat suits to a cheering crowd of more than 38,000 people today.

Fans stood respectfully behind the barricades and in the stands as they were treated to videos on the two JumboTron monitors, speeches by Saban, some staff, and a handful of players. There was electricity in the air, as well as fireworks, for this roughly 45-minute pep rally celebrating the latest national title.

The threat of rain kept many from attending, but the ones who did were treated to getting up close and personal with the team and staff as both Saban and the players wanted to thank the fans for being there for them all season long.

"We consider you (the fans) an important part of our team, and you never let us down all season," said Saban to the crowd, and he later participated in taking a victory lap around the field getting shouts of praise, high fives, and handshakes all around.

The players seemed to enjoy getting to mingle with the crowd and this was a much better idea than a parade to both the fans and the players.

The team has also been asked to come by and visit the White House to meet with President Obama as is tradition. No word on when that will happen.

Today was a day to celebrate and clearly it was for Saban, who used up a whole year's worth of smiles today and seemed to enjoy this as much as the players and fans.

He clearly wants to make this another Alabama tradition, and today told fans, "I want everybody here to know, this is not the end."

Thanks to the Birmingham News for this photo, and for a gallery of great photographs, you can go here.