MGlobules

January 10th, 2024 at 5:21 PM ^

Yeah, this is a guy who in a low-key manner managed to cut a fairly progressive figure at the University of Alabama, fergodsake. And won because he was willing to keep changing. Much more appealing figure, to my mind, than Urban Meyer, with whom he might be compared.

Of course, now you have to compare the very best with Jim, too.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 48086

1VaBlue1

January 10th, 2024 at 5:50 PM ^

This...

To be fair and honest, he changed/skirted/outright violated most of the recruiting 'rules' in place for all schools to get a lineup better than 95% of every other school in the land over the last however many years.  But lets be just as fair and honest in saying that he morphed his schemes to stay on top with the players he got.  And he morphed them either in time to stay current, or to lead the pack.

He won championships with power, with spreads, and with the Hurts/Tua hybrid spread.  And he got the absolute most out of a freshman that wasn't ready for a high level pass offense.  Dude could flat out coach.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127648

Castroviejo

January 10th, 2024 at 8:02 PM ^

I’m a bit mixed about him.. He is definitely the best talent accumulator in college football.  His talent advantage was often so overwhelming, however, that it is difficult to accurately assess his coaching abilities.  He is certainly very, very good at worst, but best ever-I don’t know.  I don’t have a sense that his players love him, nor do I sense they resent him either.

 

Is his recruiting class still required to stay at Alabama?  I thought there was some provision that you are released from your commitment if the coach you commit to leaves.  That Sayin kid is a good QB, and it would be nice to have another crack at Domani Jackson.

Joined: 12/08/2014

MGoPoints: 1894

JacquesStrappe

January 10th, 2024 at 9:48 PM ^

You can say what you want, but he got many of them where they wanted to go and got many of them high draft choices, lucrative contracts, championships, individual awards, and completed degrees along the way. However they may have felt about him personally I don’t think many of them can have many contentions that they left better than when they came in.

Joined: 04/19/2019

MGoPoints: 5019

Ham

January 10th, 2024 at 5:15 PM ^

Watching the replay of the Rose Bowl and Saban's press conference after it, he did look awfully tired. I don't know if that's how he always looks, but it stood out to me at the time. Talk about an end of an era.

Pointless speculation: I wonder if this makes Harbaugh more likely to return. There's now a vacuum at the top of college football. With all the other tumult happening around the sport, he could really solidify Michigan as the top program.

Joined: 01/10/2011

MGoPoints: 37224

AnthonyThomas

January 10th, 2024 at 5:49 PM ^

Michigan doesn't utilize money in the way it would have to if it were going to try and take over the Bama spot. But this does create a vacuum at the top that isn't going to be easily filled. Saban is probably the best football coach ever, at any level, and there's almost zero chance whoever replaces him will be able to replicate that. The worry is that this all favors Georgia far more than any other school. 

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 19382

Amazinblu

January 10th, 2024 at 5:49 PM ^

It will be an interesting conversation / interview with Lanning.  

Oregon brings Nike - with all the support they provide.

Bama has an "extended family" that will do anything to bring football success to Tuscaloosa - but, I don't think the Bama family has as much monetary and brand appeal as Nike does.

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 42311

FrankMurphy

January 10th, 2024 at 5:42 PM ^

Kirby played at UGA and that job is no worse than the 'Bama job (it might even be better, since their fans are not quite as spoiled as 'Bama fans just yet), so there's no way he's leaving home for 'Bama.

DeBoer is the hottest name out there right now but he's never had a coaching job south of the Mason-Dixon line. My guess is that 'Bama will want someone who has SEC ties or has at least coached in the South before.

Lanning could be a solid hire, but they might be put off by the fact that he only has two years of experience as a head coach. 

Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri) might be a name that pops up if they get turned down by their top choices.

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 32323