I did hear a time table, but I can't verify it and I see no reason that it couldn't be changed at will by either party...
JessN: Sources say Saban, Bama are close on contract
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These are just some late-night musings. I, like Jess, had a "go" from all sources that the extension was all but a done deal. It appears that was not the case. Although not so public, we went through a similar episode last year. Personally, I'm getting tired of it. I think it will be resolved for the better for UA, in the end. For those of you who want to deny there's a problem, please just ignore the thread. Do remember what part of you is exposed when you adopt the ostrich posture...
Could Coach Saban simply not want an extension at this time ? It seems a little crazy to put ourselves through this every year !
I don't post here often, but I do want to add my prediction and thoughts about what Coach Saban will ultimately do regarding his job.
I don't believe that financial considerations will play much of a role in Saban's decision. As a retired attorney, I have no delusions that legal (contractual) concerns will either. Perhaps it's my age more than my profession that leads me to believe he will remain at Alabama for more personal reasons.
He's to the stage of life where most men start to look back and consider legacy. With the arguable exception of his departure from Miami, which proved explainable, he has has based his legacy on The Process of honor, commitment, loyalty, and personal responsibility. Saban realizes as much as anyone what going back on his now clearly stated intention to stay ay Alabama would do to that legacy.
He could reduce the negative effect of departure on that legacy if he could blame his decision on something critical having been changed by Battle, etc., but I think that would not - could not - happen.
There are lots of things at play here, and I could certainly be wrong. If it does turn out that way, then I will send him on his way with my thanks for having resurrected the program from the abyss and left it in the best possible condition to succeed in the future.
In short, I think Coach will stay, but whatever is going to happen will happen. And while we can't influence the way the immediate issue turns out, we'll be fine either way.
Editing to add this: There is one thing we fans could do that might have a positive effect. Instead of begging him to stay and selfishly wringing our hands, we fans need to flood Coach Saban with an outpouring of thanks simply for what he's done for our program.
I don't believe that financial considerations will play much of a role in Saban's decision. As a retired attorney, I have no delusions that legal (contractual) concerns will either. Perhaps it's my age more than my profession that leads me to believe he will remain at Alabama for more personal reasons.
He's to the stage of life where most men start to look back and consider legacy. With the arguable exception of his departure from Miami, which proved explainable, he has has based his legacy on The Process of honor, commitment, loyalty, and personal responsibility. Saban realizes as much as anyone what going back on his now clearly stated intention to stay ay Alabama would do to that legacy.
He could reduce the negative effect of departure on that legacy if he could blame his decision on something critical having been changed by Battle, etc., but I think that would not - could not - happen.
There are lots of things at play here, and I could certainly be wrong. If it does turn out that way, then I will send him on his way with my thanks for having resurrected the program from the abyss and left it in the best possible condition to succeed in the future.
In short, I think Coach will stay, but whatever is going to happen will happen. And while we can't influence the way the immediate issue turns out, we'll be fine either way.
Editing to add this: There is one thing we fans could do that might have a positive effect. Instead of begging him to stay and selfishly wringing our hands, we fans need to flood Coach Saban with an outpouring of thanks simply for what he's done for our program.
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Earle, just a quick note of thanks for keeping us all informed. I know from personal experience it's often much more painful to know all the finer details of a painful process, even more so when you can't share them all. Thanks for putting up with our endless questions and our joint impatience. There's no other site I trust more than this and no voice more than yours when it comes to Alabama football. Thanks for making this site what it is.
Is this delay more tied to the specifics of the Texas job or just his restlessness in general ? I've always known he seemed to be more of a builder than a manager. Just wondering if there is something specific about Texas that is giving him pause. Obviously, they have vast resources.
I guess there is a blessing and a curse with having the best coach in CFB. Seems like every year we have to "defend the castle".
Most calming post so far!
Most
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, so my fat fingers cause misspellings and autocorrect makes my ships into...
I just believe at the end of the day he will stay on board. If not I will be completely shocked.
I hope at the end of all of this that he looks out for "integrity" and doesn't break his contract. I've never broken one, no matter how bad it's gotten with the politics out here! (Earle and Darryl know what I'm talking about!) I don't expect him to be here forever, but the $$$ can't be what matters when you have his current position and stature at the University.
I will say he's never said anything to the contrary so I'll take him at his word. Hope he lands an even bigger class this year!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Yes it is. And if history is correct, after someone flips, he lands an even bigger recruit to replace them.
Sent from my iPhone
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I agree with your sentiment, not all the details necessarily.
What most of us don't know is what this is REALLY about.
If CNS's decision is just about integrity and legacy then I can't imagine him not staying.
If it's about financial considerations or other issues we may not be aware of then all bets are off.
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I think what makes this all the more frustrating is that this isn't about the money so much as it is abou his decision to continue to maintain a program or build a program or just flat out retire.
It's hard to relate to people on Nick Saban's level. One thing I keep going back to is Michael Jordan retiring from basketball to play baseball. That still seems irrational, but the fact is his dad died and he realized it was his last chance to try to become a major leaguer. On one hand it's nuts, on the other it's a rational solution to a problem.
Mal Moore's death had to have triggered some concerns with Nick Saban. Be it over the new AD and President, or just a reminder of his own mortality, it seemed to be enough to make Nick re-evaluate things. It's more rational than it might appear, because there's a ticking clock and Nick probably doesn't want to have any regrets. He's the hottest commodity in the entire coaching world, but in a few short years that will be over.
It's understandable that some people have developed a shut up and coach mentality when it comes to Nick Saban. He's paid millions of dollars and some people can't understand why he can't just take the money and do his job, and leave everyone else alone. In most situations, most environments that surely would be enough. But, Nick Saban isn't most people, and Alabama isn't most environments. He wants everything to be perfect, and he agonizes over things most of us wouldn't think twice about.
I'm not an insider, I'm not privy to private conversations, but there's been concern expressed over complacency and appreciation. This might not seem like much, but those things can be enough to take down any team. If Nick Saban is the head coach for Alabama next year, it's unimaginable that he goes elsewhere after that. The Texas situation developed into a rare chance to make a lateral move, and after that time will eat up what ever chances he might have left. There is likely a rational fear that if he stays at Alabama, there won't be the urgency required to get things done. Some people will settle into the ok, we have Nick Saban, we're good, mentality, while ignoring anything Nick says.
I feel like Nick Saban has been trying to shake things up for a while now, he's been trying to stir up the fans, and arguably trying to stir up the administration. He's said here's what you need to do, and he's gotten some backlash (nothing major, but for a perfectionist it's notable) for it. There has to be concern on his part that he's running out of leverage, once people know he's not leaving, it's easier to just ignore him, and he'll be left dealing with the consequences. This might sound like conjecture, and it is, but if Bill Battle is ok with publicly going out there and contradicting the head coach on TV, what might others in positions of power feel comfortable doing behind closed doors?
I hope Saban is mainly trying to stir things up a little, keep people from being apathetic and exert the proper amount of influence. That might not be it at all, but it feels like that's part of it, and as for the allure of Texas, I'd assume Saban feels like that at least for a couple years, the fans and powers that be would indulge any requests he makes without criticism, which of course makes it easier for him to accomplish his goals. I think Saban has to recognize that in the long run, the move to Texas would be the wrong move (he has to know he can't "rebuild" Texas without damaging Alabama), but right now the Texas situation is giving him the most power he's ever going to have. After that, all he has left is the Barry Sanders approach...
Mal Moore's death had to have triggered some concerns with Nick Saban. Be it over the new AD and President, or just a reminder of his own mortality, it seemed to be enough to make Nick re-evaluate things. It's more rational than it might appear, because there's a ticking clock and Nick probably doesn't want to have any regrets. He's the hottest commodity in the entire coaching world, but in a few short years that will be over.
It's understandable that some people have developed a shut up and coach mentality when it comes to Nick Saban. He's paid millions of dollars and some people can't understand why he can't just take the money and do his job, and leave everyone else alone. In most situations, most environments that surely would be enough. But, Nick Saban isn't most people, and Alabama isn't most environments. He wants everything to be perfect, and he agonizes over things most of us wouldn't think twice about.
I'm not an insider, I'm not privy to private conversations, but there's been concern expressed over complacency and appreciation. This might not seem like much, but those things can be enough to take down any team. If Nick Saban is the head coach for Alabama next year, it's unimaginable that he goes elsewhere after that. The Texas situation developed into a rare chance to make a lateral move, and after that time will eat up what ever chances he might have left. There is likely a rational fear that if he stays at Alabama, there won't be the urgency required to get things done. Some people will settle into the ok, we have Nick Saban, we're good, mentality, while ignoring anything Nick says.
I feel like Nick Saban has been trying to shake things up for a while now, he's been trying to stir up the fans, and arguably trying to stir up the administration. He's said here's what you need to do, and he's gotten some backlash (nothing major, but for a perfectionist it's notable) for it. There has to be concern on his part that he's running out of leverage, once people know he's not leaving, it's easier to just ignore him, and he'll be left dealing with the consequences. This might sound like conjecture, and it is, but if Bill Battle is ok with publicly going out there and contradicting the head coach on TV, what might others in positions of power feel comfortable doing behind closed doors?
I hope Saban is mainly trying to stir things up a little, keep people from being apathetic and exert the proper amount of influence. That might not be it at all, but it feels like that's part of it, and as for the allure of Texas, I'd assume Saban feels like that at least for a couple years, the fans and powers that be would indulge any requests he makes without criticism, which of course makes it easier for him to accomplish his goals. I think Saban has to recognize that in the long run, the move to Texas would be the wrong move (he has to know he can't "rebuild" Texas without damaging Alabama), but right now the Texas situation is giving him the most power he's ever going to have. After that, all he has left is the Barry Sanders approach...
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Those last two paragraphs were KrAzY speculation. What backlash has Nick Saban gotten? How is he running out of leverage? How does Texas give him any more power than he already has? Michael Jordan and Barry Sanders get thrown in there for good measure?
Wow, people have been losing it over this.
Wow, people have been losing it over this.
FUD.
Fear. Uncertainty. and Doubt.
The concept has been around for ages and ages and was placed in those terms last century. it's most famous due to the tech field, but don't think it's not used in football recruiting. Recruits are being assured or reassured by Coach Saban that he is staying. Why? Because someone is placing FUD in their heads. The same thing happened in the last several years of Coach Bryant's tenure as Coach.
Of course, FUD is most effective when the very people you are targeting begin to have FUD. Is that where we are? Looks that way, warranted or not.
Fear. Uncertainty. and Doubt.
The concept has been around for ages and ages and was placed in those terms last century. it's most famous due to the tech field, but don't think it's not used in football recruiting. Recruits are being assured or reassured by Coach Saban that he is staying. Why? Because someone is placing FUD in their heads. The same thing happened in the last several years of Coach Bryant's tenure as Coach.
Of course, FUD is most effective when the very people you are targeting begin to have FUD. Is that where we are? Looks that way, warranted or not.
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