I think it all depends on his health. If his health holds up, I don not believe he can turn loose in four more years. That probably will prevent Smart's getting a tryout as HC...
Coach Saban = Coach Bryant in today's more competitive/balanced playing field. We hired what will be one of the top 5 coaches in the history of the game, much of that is luck. He took his LSU performance and went into another gear. I don't believe Coach Moore knew that his peers were mainly deceased, instead of other coaches in the SEC. If he did, I doubt Rod would have been offered.
We just disagree on mental vs physical. Imo, he will be physically healthy when he retires. When the fun can't counter balance the weight, he will let us know the end is near, and I am already detecting a slow slide. The 2009 SECCG was the peak, although it peaked for an extended period.
Coach is not one to build a tower and let his assistants do the job. Coach Bryant probably would have retired after the 79 season if not for the record. The foundation he built allowed him to set things on cruise control
Ans on foundations, it makes no sense, at-least for me to dismantle the current system in place. Tow other Coach Saban coordinators went to UF and FSU as rookies, why should Coach Smart be different. And another point that I believe will be mentioned in 4 years or so when Coach Saban retires...........don's make the mistake of not listening to the masters. Coach Bryant wanted Stallings, This is significant, comparing Coach Smart to Dubose is not. One was the masses choice, the other the master. If Coach Saban wants Coach Smart, why not? There is going to be a heck of a shadow left by CNS and Kirby would embrace it like coach Stalling did. Or we could hire a coach to tear down ever poster in the complex that says "Process" and compare his every move to Coach Saban until he runs away or is canned first.
I do find it interesting after finding no one to agree in my believe that Coach Smart has become the d-facto coach in waiting (in-house, classified) that Terry Saban does an interview and speaks of how much she and Coach Saban believe the program would continue it machine like ways if he was promoted.
I have found that some can't distinguish between in-house and public coach in waiting, that the ills of the public one would be the same for the former. There is a huge one, first it doesn't a 2nd string quarterback situation that we are familiar with and second, it can change without any negative press. For instance if the Georgia job cam open. And 3rd you won't have to read about "when" all season long ever season. Big difference.