After the reign of a very successful coach like Coach Bryant or Coach Saban, I think it is very difficult and maybe impossible to continue the success at the same rate or even close to it.
However, after Wallace Wade, Coach Thomas did a great job. After Coach Thomas, we didn't do so great. The only great thing that happened at Bama between Thomas and the "Ears" man was that trouncing of Syracuse in the Orange Bowl.
After Coach Bryant, we were in the Wilderness for quite a while until someone in their right mind hired Coach Stallings. Perkins was a strong personality, but he was not in it for the long term, apparently. I guess he tried to just do it HIS way and tear down Coach Bryant's tower. Instead of tearing it down, he should have embraced it. Maybe he was not strong enough or just wanted to head back in the NFL.
I don't know if I'd want to be the one to follow Coach Saban unless you are a very good (outstanding) coach and a very strong personality. You must be a great leader, motivator, administrator, strategist, and very intelligent. Is Kirby Smart that guy. I just don't know.?!
Hopefully, the Alabama fans will not seek to use the internet to influence the decision maker/s. Didn't that happen with the decision to hire the 1st Mike of the 21st century? Then the 2nd Mike was Rolling with the Tide or whatever and didn't even coach one game. One of the very few things I enjoyed about the third Mike was that drubbing of Pope Urban and the Gators. I think the third Mike was a classy person, but the job was just toooooooooo big for him. He just did not have the experience to be in that job. Is the job toooooooo big for Kirby?
So, the bottom line, we need a very strong personality to replace a very strong personality. We need a great leader, motivator, administrator, and strategist who is very intelligent. That person needs to have a PLAN like The Process! Otherwise we could end up in the Wilderness for a few years with a few coaches until we have the RIGHT one. So, if you do not have the qualities to be a great success, do NOT apply. We need to get the very BEST and PAY him.