Pop Warner honors Saban's father

Pop Warner has named a scholarship after the father of Alabama coach Nick Saban.

The youth sports organization announced the creation of the Nick Saban Sr. Scholarship Fund on Tuesday. It's the organization's first named scholarship.

Nick Saban Sr. started a Pop Warner team in Fairmont, West Virginia, and his son played for him.

The scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement and leadership on and off the field.

Saban says the scholarship fund is ''an immense honor.'' The coach says it's ''a truly meaningful way to honor my father's commitment to the Pop Warner program and the great game of football, and the strong emphasis he placed on academic excellence.''

Pop Warner Little Scholars bills itself as the world's largest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization.