A Few More Saban Thoughts

Pat Forde writes that Nick Saban's sudden turnaround from "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach" to Bear Air, is simply par for the course in coaching circles. Forde does a good job of cataloguing the numerous statement of bolting coaches, from Tuberville's pine box quote to Dennis Franchione's knife in his player's backs.

Meanwhile, Alabama man Ivan Maisel writes that Bama is getting a mixed bag, a good coach who gets financial security from Bama, but offers none in return.

I tend to agree with Maisel. Saban is a good coach and I cannot deny that. He has won conference championships and a national championship. But, he is not exactly the bulldozer that many have made him out to be. I can remember some bad losses under his tenure at LSU (UAB, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Alabama) and it wasn't like his teams just blew people away. Saban will win consistently, but I don't think he is exactly the football God that Bama is hyping him to be. Add to that the constant concern that Nick bolts for some other job. Plus, the Bama job isn't as good as the LSU job, simply based on the recruiting base and competition for that base. LSU gets ten great recruits a year with virtually no effort. Bama once held that kind of power, but it has faded under probation and Auburn's rise.

The pluses, thought, clearly outweigh the minuses. Bama is hemorrhaging now and has been for a few years. Their image is bruised. Their program has sputtered, winning big, then falling apart. One thing that cannot be doubted is that Saban will build a sound foundation in Tuscaloosa. LSU was in much worse condition when Saban arrived. Now that program is on autopilot. They can win ten games every year for the foreseeable future. That is due in large part to Saban's tenure.

In any case, the press conference is tomorrow at 10AM. It will be followed by Saban walking across the Black Warrior River and back. Meanwhile, the Dolphins organization, or its staff at least, rejoices.