By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com College Football Blogger
The GOAT is gone, off to Lake Burton and his boat, no longer on the sideline, at the podium or on the practice field for Alabama football.
Nick Saban has retired and as reality slowly sinks in to replace shock, Alabama fans are sure hoping things go much better now than they did after the school’s other legendary coach retired Bear Bryant.
After Bryant – whose retirement was also a surprise, tho the progam had begun to slip is last two years – the Crimson Tide went through a succession of coaches. First was Ray Perkins, who probably would have succeeded onc he got the hang of the college game but he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then Bill Curry, who was unfairly treated by some of the redneck fans because he was no ties to the university but ultimtely left becaue he could not beat Auburn. Then Gene Stallings, a former Bryant assistant who sounded somewhat like the Bear, who build a defense in the “old Alabama way” that won a National Championship.
From there, tho, it was a series of distasters, irconically three of them named Mike – duBose, Shula and the part-timer Price– with a Dennis (Franchione). So Bama fans are likely saying “just make sure his name isn’t Mike!”
There are some capable Saban replacements out there. The top one is Kirby Smart, who has run a Saban-like program at Georgia and won two consecutive National Championships while recruting at s Saban-like level. There is also Dabo Swinney, who seems as if he’s worn out with Clemson and Clemson is worn out with him. The Alabama job, tho, would likely rejuvinate the former Crimson Tide receiver.
Oregon Coach Dan Lanning is most often mentioned as a top candidate and from his short stint at the Ducks, it would seem to be a wise choice. Sark, too, at Texas, tho one Bama insider told me that Sark’s alcohol past would be a problem. Lane Kiffin seems to always be mentioned in any open coaching conversation, tho why I can’t understand. He’s too immature to run a program the statue of Alabama.
Whoever it is, things will be different. Legendary coaches not only win, they have presence. Bryant, with his houndstooth hat, gravely voice and country upbringing, was Alabama football. He defined it. Saban’s hand clapping, legendary sideline encounters with players and press conference rants – who will ever forget “rat poison?” – became the same.
That’s why it’s so difficult to replace a legend.
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