Saban signs multi-year extension w/Bama, shorthorns on suicide watch...

[braggtd]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Or maybe the Fonzie..?

 

[davefrat]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

I'll say this. In terms of contract negotiations, and all of that, sports are different in the real world. Mike Shula has a contract when he was fired, Mack Brown has a contract, etc... all of those represent the word of the respective universities and when it comes down to it, it doesn't mean much.

But, there's no question at all in my mind that if Saban is given a fair market offer by Alabama, and he does leave, that would be wrong on several levels.

People get fired because they either fail at there job or don't fulfill contractual obligations...it's quite different from saying you are not going anywhere numerous times in the press and in interviews only to go back on your word weeks or months later.

 

[TideFan in AU]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

If I'm not mistaken he received an extension and raise this past March. He did say at that time that it "represented his intention to finish his career at Alabama"!

So by that statement, do you think he meant he was never taking another raise?

 

[RollTide2U]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Or maybe the Fonzie..?

nah....

 

[Ldlane]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

No, just wondering why it was offered?

So by that statement, do you think he meant he was never taking another raise?

 

[B1GTide]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

People get fired because they either fail at there job or don't fulfill contractual obligations...it's quite different from saying you are not going anywhere numerous times in the press and in interviews only to go back on your word weeks or months later.

Not to pick nits, but good people get fired every day without cause.

At any rate, you seem to be pretty fired up about this. I think that you owe it to Saban to at least see how this plays out before you decide that you no longer trust him - but that is just my opinion.

 

[braggtd]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Remember this? “From my standpoint, the acceptance of this extension represents our commitment … to the University of Alabama for the rest of our career. We made that decision after the season when other people were interested.”

 

[RollTide2U]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

No, just wondering why it was offered?

Well, according to some accounts, Mack Brown getting pushed out at Texas was the game-changer. Texas is interested in him now. It makes him a hotter commodity. So Alabama was proactive and drew up an extension with more money.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

But he's done that already twice! It would only mean that he just likes building or he's afraid or truly dislikes the challenge of maintaining.[/QUOTE

Exactly. Fundamental change -- as opposed to change of location -- is very hard.

Way back when, a friend of a friend was a guest host on Saban's radio show during his only year in Toledo. The host had heard Saban was a pill, but when the show was over, he asked him anyway if he wanted to go get some dinner. Saban was stunned. Nobody had asked him to do that. He went. They had a great time.

The point being: Maybe as Savannah says, this is just a case of conflicting calendars, and all is well. Or maybe there are some real insecurities at play here as The Great Nick Saban, like the rest of us schmucks, tries to figure out the rest of his life.

 

[bigjue24]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Relax and have a drink. This is gonna turn out just fine.

Bigtide you make me want to like OSU.

 

[braggtd]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Bigtide you make me want to like OSU.

Like OSU, nah, but Big is definitely a good dude!

 

[davefrat]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

In that case, you presently have no reason to be upset. He has not said or done anything that you or I know of that contradicts anything that he has said to Alabama fans and/or the Alabama administration.

We have a lot of conjecture about this situation, but certainly not enough to start calling him a liar.

At this point I think it is safe to say anyone who believes he's not at least thinking about taking an offer from Texas is living in a fantasy world. My point is that if he absolutely intended to stay he wouldn't entertain offers...and if he was going to entertain offers he never should have said a word about his long term commitment so recently and all the unequivocal comments that he's not going anywhere and which we're echoed by his wife in a prepared interview. Especially considering his history. Do you believe he's not at least considering taking the job at Texas?

 

[TideFan in AU]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

No, just wondering why it was offered?

The most logical reason is that Alabama knew Texas would come calling with a huge offer since it was pretty evident that Mack Brown was likely got to forced out this year. This is pretty much what happens when it is known that any highly demanded professional is going to be offered a lot more money that they are currently making. That is just the landscape of the coaching profession.

 

[Catfish]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Bigtide you make me want to like OSU.

Me, too. Almost. :wink:

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Clearly, Texas isn't going to get rid of their second best coach of all time, and pay an enormous sum of money, for someone that they don't expect to win all the time. At best, he's got a couple of years grace period, but you'd better believe he's not expected to lose to Alabama, LSU, FSU, etc... in a playoff in year three. The pressure would be every bit as high, if not higher, because at that point the notion that he's a mercenary would be considered fact. Texas just isn't the place to go to east the pressure.

Also, I don't see an equal number of advantages to coaching at Texas. I see some unique advantages, and some unique disadvantages, but there's no way around the fact that having to rebuild is a disadvantage and time works against that. If there is any setback, if he's not championship level in year two or three, he is in trouble because time is not on his side.

As to the final point, yes, it's a challenge to rebuild a brand, and that can be a rewarding challenge, but... it's also sadistic to want to destroy something you've built. He could go to the NFL without doing much harm to what he built at Alabama, he can't go to Texas without doing a lot of harm. It can't just be about building something new, it would have to be about damaging something he built, which is his greatest accomplishment...

1. Of course they expect him to win. But they do not expect him to go undefeated the first year.

2. Going to Texas in no form or fashion "destroys" Bama. Do you really think we will be so powerless? Darn, bud, you're sounding like a Who.

 

[westide]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

The only place Saint Nick is going is to the North Pole.

 

[Catfish]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

At this point I think it is safe to say anyone who believes he's not at least thinking about taking an offer from Texas is living in a fantasy world. My point is that if he absolutely intended to stay he wouldn't entertain offers...and if he was going to entertain offers he never should have said a word about his long term commitment so recently and all the unequivocal comments that he's not going anywhere and which we're echoed by his wife in a prepared interview. Especially considering his history. Do you believe he's not at least considering taking the job at Texas?

Maybe he has no intention of leaving, but knows that if he holds off on signing, the new contract on his desk will get a little (or a lot) fatter. I'd do the same thing if I were in his shoes. Just because he hasn't signed yet doesn't make him a liar or mean that he's entertaining the idea of leaving. Maybe it just means he's a savvy negotiator.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Looks like you would need some help from at least two of us to get his belly out of the way. I'll get the right side... who else is with us?

Notice that 'Big Shot' Sexton is wearing shoes that have been 'Half Soled'...
Unless he's trying for 'A common Man' look, it's a little out of place, that is unless he's a tight wad.

 

[Ldlane]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Then if you are committed to Alabama the way you said you were, why are you waiting for news of Macs removal to sign your contract? This is all speculation of course. So I think he IS considering, otherwise we wouldn't have a contract and extension less than a year after his last on his desk!

The most logical reason is that Alabama knew Texas would come calling with a huge offer since it was pretty evident that Mack Brown was likely got to forced out this year. This is pretty much what happens when it is known that any highly demanded professional is going to be offered a lot more money that they are currently making. That is just the landscape of the coaching profession.

 

[davefrat]

Re: New Discussion Thread on Possible Coaching Changes...

Not to pick nits, but good people get fired every day without cause.

At any rate, you seem to be pretty fired up about this. I think that you owe it to Saban to at least see how this plays out before you decide that you no longer trust him - but that is just my opinion.

I owe him nothing more than the benefit of reasonable doubt and at this point I have reasonable doubt and I think that position is supported to at least a small extent by the mods who are in the know and who have made it quite clear that they have heard enough from credible sources to be concerned that he is at least considering a move.