While some think that the SEC should be up in arms that it spends far more money per athlete than any other conference in the nation, SN's David Whitley sees the light—it's just the cost of doing business.
But the biggest unknown, and perhaps the most controversial decision remaining, concerning college football's impending four-team playoff is simply this -- who will select the teams each year, and how will they be selected?
Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is heading north to join the Philadelphia Eagles, and now the search begins for a replacement. This could actually be the best time for it, with the Tide replacing Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker and Barrett Jones and breaking in new talent like 2013 signees Leon Brown and Grant Hill. The new players will be adjusting to Nick Saban’s system already, so learning the blocking scheme of a new coach will be part of that. Names will begin to float in the coming days, from both the college ranks and the NFL. Alabama has the resources, talent level and the facilities to compete with any program – college or pro – in the country for coaching talent, so Nick Saban will be able to pick from among the best.
It didn't seem like much of a secret that Alabama wasn't thrilled with its backup quarterback situation. Watching AJ McCarron take the field up three touchdowns late in the game against Notre Dame signified as much. Why even risk the junior quarterback who could lead you to three straight national championships?
The NFL draft is right around the corner, and as we say goodbye to national signing day, we're turning our attention back to players who just left the SEC. Following the 2012 season, the SEC was gutted by a tremendous amount of players looking to make futures for themselves in the NFL. And when you take a look at mock drafts, you can tell that the conference is losing a lot of very good talent in 2013.
Vigor football coach Kerry Stevenson steps down, expected to land job at Alabama-al.comStevenson lead Vigor to the Class 5A state championship in 2008 when his team went 15-0
New Orleans SPARQ Combine draws hundreds of Southeastern prospects (video)-al.comWith Signing Day 2013 finally over, the focus of the college football recruiting world lies squarely on the future with 2014 and even 2015 prospects beginning to draw the attention of college scouts all over the country
Recruiting Quick Hits: Bo Scarbrough, Marlon Humphrey, Shaun Dion Hamilton headline Central Alabama's 2014 recruiting class (video)-al.comNow that National Signing Day 2013 is officially in the books, the focus turns to the 2014 class, and Central Alabama is ripe with talent.
Introducing Parker McLeod, 1 of 3 new Alabama quarterbacks who is ready for a fresh start (video)-al.comThe three-star prospect from Marietta, Ga., missed four games during his senior season because of an ankle injury.
Top NFL scouting combine snub? NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler says it's Alabama tight end Michael Williams, who wasn't one of the 330 players invited to Indianapolis for the event later this month. "Although he plays stiff and will struggle to separate at the next level, Williams is a powerful and physical blocker with the size and strength to stick in the NFL as a No. 2 tight end," Brugler wrote.