Is Saban leaving Bama in a bind?

[perico]

I would argue Tennessee is second to none at those categories you mentioned yet we've had a tough 15 years. The gumps aren't immune either. Texas A&M is probably far and away first in those categories and they struggle to be more than a 8-4 program.

Tennessee doesn’t have the natural recruiting advantages of other schools though. Bama doesnt either to be honest (the state may produce a bit more talent, but they have to contend with Auburn who always will recruit at a high level as long as their HC is at least competent):

 

[miket4god]

I would argue Tennessee is second to none at those categories you mentioned yet we've had a tough 15 years. The gumps aren't immune either. Texas A&M is probably far and away first in those categories and they struggle to be more than a 8-4 program.

Agree except for the administrations committment to winning prior to Randy Boyd and Donde Plowman.

We went through several administrations that didn't care at all about athletics.

 

[woodpusher]

I imagine nobody thought Florida, Miami, USC, Nebraska and until recently Michigan would be as down as they have been. It's far,far more likely that Alabama becomes a middle of the road SEC program than stays in the top 5. The first three programs I mentioned have far more natural resources than Alabama for football and thus a higher floor yet they've still struggled. So it's not crazy at all to view this as a death knell for Alabama. It kinda is.

I can understand players from Texas going to Nebraska if they didn't get into Texas, Baylor, etc (Big 12 era)
I can understand players from Chicago going to Michigan State, Wisconsin, etc. (Big 10 era) rather than go to Nebraska.
The real mystery is how did Nebraska stay so good for so long in the Big 8 era and before?

 

[vegasvolfan]

They’re in the process of replacing another DC, no internal promotion to HC from what I hear or anyone lined up yet, and they just told the players today also apparently.

Is Saban just dipping leaving Bama without giving them exit plans?

When you have the greatest coach of all time leave, you are going to be some sort of a bind. Relatively speaking, however, no. He just coached up their future QB to be one of the best QBs in the nation. They have their guy. They have an incredible recruiting class. The cupboard is stocked. It’s right after the regular season which was a success. Most coaches have not signed new contracts. And I think Lane is available considering he is at the worst school out there among any coaches I have seen listed. I think that’s who they get and they are idiots if they don’t. He just brought Ole Miss out of the dumps to a school record 11 wins. FSU, Wash, Oregon, TX, Clemson are all far better programs than Ole Miss and better situations.

I am surprised no one has mentioned Heupel, but I don’t think he would leave either after what we just saw in our bowl game. Our program is also a better product than Ole Miss. I can see Heupel getting an early raise that I would have held off of if I were Danny until next year. I could be wrong though.

 

[walkenvol]

I wouldn't be surprised if he did just drop this on them. Saban has a huge ego and wouldn't feel like he owes anyone anything.

He’s 72 years old… if bama’s AD hasn’t had contingency plans for the next football coach along with all their sports, then bama has an AD problem. That’s an AD’s most important job responsibility.

 

[05_never_again]

I can understand players from Texas going to Nebraska if they didn't get into Texas, Baylor, etc (Big 12 era)
I can understand players from Chicago going to Michigan State, Wisconsin, etc. (Big 10 era) rather than go to Nebraska.
The real mystery is how did Nebraska stay so good for so long in the Big 8 era and before?

It was a confluence of things, mainly them being light years ahead of the rest of the sport in the area of S&C (and likely steroids) and the "walk on" program that they had that allowed them to have like 150+ players on a team, many of whom could actually play and weren't just warm bodies. I'm not sure how exactly that program worked and why it ended.

Plus, Tom Osborne and Bob Devaney before him were great coaches. People forget about Devaney because Osborne was so good, but Devaney won two national titles and 8 conference titles himself. They had a string of virtually uninterrupted good seasons from 1962 to 1997.

That long run they had is honestly one of the more impressive things in the history of CFB. You ask the right question - many people are like "Why aren't they good anymore" when the real question is "How were they so good to begin with?" There isn't really any compelling reason why an elite CFB program would be located in Lincoln, NE.

 

[knox73]

Yes they are in a transitional time - looks like a good coaching hire but Bama could be in a “bind” due to a spoiled front runner fanbase and being in the Uber competitive SEC. Odds of DeBoer finding another Penix are not good and Milroe will be a frustrated man learning the new offense. DeBoer is paid well but has no clue of SEC mania and what he just jumped into. DeBoer is an excellent coach no doubt but all his patience, diplomacy and interpersonal skills will be tested not to mention with Saint Nick strolling around campus signing autographs and generally looking pizzed off before, during and after every game.

 

[VolTull]

He’s 72 years old… if bama’s AD hasn’t had contingency plans for the next football coach along with all their sports, then bama has an AD problem. That’s an AD’s most important job responsibility.

Would a multimillion dollar business be so foolish as not to?

 

[a vol n tears]

What are they exactly?

Asking for a friend.

Fraud / rigged. I stated, my opinion.
I as a fan cannot prove that all of the obvious missed calls in both pro and college football, isn’t on purpose to alter the final scores. But you cannot prove that they are “just mistakes”. If college and sports refs making excellent money to ref, are no better than the high school refs I see each week, I have questions.
We want to think the best of those guys, but millions of dollars are bet on the line each week, plus millions of $$ for ESPN / ABC to promote certain leagues or teams, something has definitely changed. With today’s (past 10-15 yrs) rules on scholarships etc, there should be much more parity in college football.
I can’t prove it, but you can’t prove it’s not.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

NBGAF!

 

[n_huffhines]

a 30 day window opens whenever a head coach leaves.

its more likely he waited until the current guys were going to classes so they wouldn't be eligible to enroll at another school in the spring even if they did transfer.

He also gave Michigan a couple days to enjoy the spotlight. Big ego move.