Saban Agrees to Stay at Alabama

Submitted by Cold War on

Official, being reported by major news outlets.

For the record, I don't think this is good news. He is part of the whole SEC! SEC! SEC! mystique. Saban leaving would have been a step toward bringing that conference down toward the others, both in perception and reality. 

Update: Kevin McGuire at NBC Sports is reporting Mack is staying, but I'm not seeing other reports of that.

Update #2: Bobby Burton of 247Sports also reporting Mack will stay on as coach.

Leonhall

December 14th, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^

This Texas situation is going to get harrier than our coaching situations...Mack Brown continues to fight for his position...do you keep him around another year....fire him...get the popcorn out.

pb1234

December 14th, 2013 at 8:49 AM ^

Their record is already worse than ours over the last 4 years, AND they have a fossilized legend trying to hang on too long. It's Penn State with less rape.

They are definitely worse off than we are.

Hoke the Joke

December 14th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^

Texas is currently in a messy situation but they are absolutely NOT worse off than we are.  They are still the premier football school in one of the most talent rich states in the US.  When they are halfway decent they have first crack at all kinds of 5-star and 4-star recruits. 

Mgodiscgolfer

December 14th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^

if they turn into two stars during their four years at the school. Texas will soon start watching those five stars go to other schools so they can develop into pro players.

Magnus

December 14th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^

Malcolm Brown the running back scored 11 touchdowns this year.

Malcolm Brown the defensive tackle had 63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.

Johnathan Gray led the team in rushing and averaged 4.9 yards/carry.

Jackson Jeffcoat led the team in tackles, had 12 sacks, and is an All-American.

Jordan Hicks had 41 tackles in 4 games before getting injured.

Alex Okafor was an All-American and drafted in the 4th round by the Cardinals.

Mason Walters has started 50 games at right guard and was named Second Team All-Big 12.

You must be, of course, talking about Garrett Gilbert, the lone 5-star who hasn't exactly panned out. He left Texas when he didn't win the job and wound up at SMU, where he completed 67% of his passes for 21 touchdowns and 7 picks this year.

That's some 2-star production right there.

clarkiefromcanada

December 14th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^

Man, that was down right ugly. I don't always agree with Magnus but his dissection on that point was pretty clinical.

I do enjoy the new point system as it seems to enable this sort of discussion without 40 posts regarding 5 stars don't matter devolving into Brady Hoke (by some strange association) not coaching em up....Kalis, crisis, rabble rabble.

Blue Ninja

December 14th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^

Read today that Mack had been ready to resign until he started reading reports about his coming resignation. That mad him mad and want to stay. They had the team banquet last night and he said nothing about his future plans either.

Everytime ESPn puts their hand into a story about a coach resigning or being hired it gets screwed up due to their meddling.

 

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10135176/texas-longhorns-mack-brown-meets-ad-steve-patterson-president-bill-powers

LSAClassOf2000

December 14th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^

I believe it had been decidec at the Board Of Regents meeting at Austin on Thursday that Powers was staying in his position as the school's president too, and as Bill Powers is one of Brown's more outspoken advocates, supposedly this helps stabilize the situation at least to an extent. At least, that seems to be part of the thoery anyway. 

I do wonder if Saban being definitely out of the picture and the lack of other obvious names as yet means that Brown may very well be around next year. I would imagine something has to be decided either way around the time of their bowl game though. 

DonAZ

December 14th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^

I do wonder if Saban being definitely out of the picture and the lack of other obvious names as yet means that Brown may very well be around next year.

I think so.  The lack of a sure-fire alternative coupled with a 2013 record that's not quite bad enough to clearly justify firing means he probably stays another year. 

I would not want to be Mack Brown in 2014 ... the microscope will be on him.

UMgradMSUdad

December 14th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^

Texas fans, at least the vocal ones on message boards, seem none to happy with the thought of having Mack Brown around for another year. I bet Oliver Luck is thanking his stars now that he didn't get the Texas AD job.

DonAZ

December 14th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^

That brings up an interesting question about who the top-flight coaches are ... and which ones would be likely to move from their present positions.

It would be pure speculation ... but it might be an interesting discussion of the pros and cons of various coaches.

xxxxNateDaGreat

December 14th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^

I am actually for Mack Brown coming back for one more year.

I know they've had four bad-to-above-average seasons in a row, but Texas is a good DC away from being a legitimate Big 12 title contender. Seriously. We need look no further than Mattison to see what a massive difference a good coordinator makes. Plus, David Ash will be healthy and he is a huge improvement over McCoy the Youngest. Their defense- hell, the entire team is full of highly ranked recruits.

I know their recruiting has been down this year (which is to be expected when in state Texas A&M and Baylor have both emerged as upper tier programs, plus OKSU had back to back double digit win seasons for the first time in over 20 years), but they still have plenty of talent from ''10-'12 to compete for a Big 12 championship.

ghost

December 14th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^

Saban's extension or whatever it is will be for a year when someone else comes calling.  Or maybe until Jerry Jones decides he had had enough of Jason Garrett.

Victor Valiant

December 14th, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^

I think you're right. Saban's career has shown that he is constantly looking for a new challenge. He just seems like a guy always looking for that next bridge to cross. He was building LSU into exactly what he has now at Alabama before he left for the Dolphins, but left nonetheless. I could see him getting an itch for a new challenege, whether it be another shot at the pro's, or a place like Texas, if Alabama struggles even a little next year breaking in a new QB. Looking at their roster, they do not have any sure-fire guys to step in and run that offense. Obviously they are still a stacked team, but a season can crumble pretty quickly in the mighty SEC if they don't find a quality guy at QB. Saban didn't really develop anyone these last couple years.

Sione's Flow

December 14th, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^

I honestly think Brown will stay, but that next year if they don't win the Big 12.  Texas is going to go all in for Saban or someone of that caliber.  With as much high school talent that Texas produces, the word dynasty wouldn't be able to describe what the right coach could do at UT.