Who is Saban's replacement?

[tusks_n_raider]

I just don't want us to make a Panic Hire.

If it takes weeks just get the right guy.

Our top choices imo should be Sark and Lane.

Kiffin definitely wants this job and if we can get him I'd be ecstatic.

I would only be disappointed if we took a huge risk on someone completely unproven as a HC or someone who has proven to be Mediocre.

Take a Big Swing at every Big Name 1st though.

 

[HighlandOak]

Sark and Lanning both have the same issue. If those programs want to keep them, Alabama can not match the money.

But, Sark's time at Texas has been a bit more contentious. I think Sark is the safer version of Kiffin but some of the same questions remain. Can he lead a team to a title? Can he get over the hump?

I have no idea...

Bit of a toss up if I had to compare him to Dabo I guess.

Lanning really seemed to fit the bill, after that, I mean unless you get Smart to leave Georgia (not happening) every candidate is going to have some warts.

I don't think money would be the deciding factor for Sark, ultimately. He's gotten a taste of success and has had some time to evaluate how much independence he can have running his ship. If he wants the freedom to run his program his way, Bama will offer plenty of money for that. If he just wants to keep getting paid a ridiculous amount of money, he's in the right place.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Luke Fickell?

Coaches that are not current head coaches: Todd Monken, Mike Macdonald

Monken would make some sense but he's likely to get an NFL job soon. Also no idea how good of a recruiter he is/was

 

[bvandegraff]

There’s that attitude everyone wanted.

Yeah, expect more flexing at Bama's expense as the rumor mill continues to churn.

 

[bamaee04]

The deal has to be closed soon or we'll experience a huge detriment in recruiting and folks hitting the portal. All of our adversaries are already trying to poach talent as it is. Kiffin, Sark (if he would even come) or last resort or Dabo at this point or anything else in my mind would be a panic hire and it won't end well either way...

 

[HighlandOak]

Luke Fickell?

Coaches that are not current head coaches: Todd Monken, Mike Macdonald

Would be a nice 6th or 7th option.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

0% chance of winning a title for Laning at Oregon

Straight up opinion here, but it could be he knows that but will take his chances on another top 5-10 program coming open in a few years and doesn't want to "be the guy that follows THE GUY".

Addition:
But on the other side of that same coin, things don't always go as planned and he could look back and regret not taking it. A bird in the hand is better than a bird in the bush...

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Straight up opinion here, but it could be he knows that but will take his chances on another top 5-10 program coming open in a few years and doesn't want to "be the guy that follows THE GUY".

I could see that. Saban will be a tough act to follow.

 

[BamaFanInTally]

Is Dabo’s name being “thrown out” or “thrown up”?

 

[denver]

reports say Lanning issued a statement saying he's staying at Oregon..on ESPN....next man up!

 

[KrAzY3]

I just don't want us to make a Panic Hire.

The problem is with the way things work now, you could have a lot of talent out the door before you hire a coach. Of course you make the wrong hire, by the time you've made a switch all the Saban talent is gone.

I was for Spurrier last time around, which apparently Alabama could have had. They almost had Rich Rod though, which was far worse, but they got Saban who was far better (though Spurrier probably could have won a couple titles at Alabama before he hung it up, he had South Carolina playing good football).

After Lanning... of the realistic possibilities, I'm leaning Dabo. I was enthused about Lanning, Kiffin and Sark have coached so long with fairly limited success, I don't know if they'd Pete Golding Alabama or not.

Dabo is the Spurrier hire to me. If Kiffin the next Saban? Is Sark? Their resumes don't look like Saban's did at that point in their career, that's for sure.

Dabo looks a bit too much like Bobby Bowden to write him off. In 1981 Bowden went 6-5, he was also 60 at that point, old enough to raise some questions. So, Alabama doesn't make an obvious move in adding a highly qualified Alabama guy.

We will see though...

Edit: I will add this though, if Alabama interviews Dabo the line of questioning would have to be how he'd adapt to the portal and NIL. I think people underestimate how poorly positioned Clemson is to compete with NIL, they're not a blueblood. But Dabo would have to have a plan if he came to Alabama...

 

[81usaf92]

The problem is with the way things work now, you could have a lot of talent out the door before you hire a coach. Of course you make the wrong hire, by the time you've made a switch all the Saban talent is gone.

I was for Spurrier last time around, which apparently Alabama could have had. They almost had Rich Rod though, which was far worse, but they got Saban who was far better (though Spurrier probably could have won a couple titles at Alabama before he hung it up, he had South Carolina playing good football).

After Lanning... of the realistic possibilities, I'm leaning Dabo. I was enthused about Lanning, Kiffin and Sark have coached so long with fairly limited success, I don't know if they'd Pete Golding Alabama or not.

Dabo is the Spurrier hire to me. If Kiffin the next Saban? Is Sark? Their resumes don't look like Saban's did at that point in their career, that's for sure.

Dabo looks a bit too much like Bobby Bowden to write him off. In 1981 Bowden went 6-5, he was also 60 at that point, old enough to raise some questions. So, Alabama doesn't make an obvious move in adding a highly qualified Alabama guy.

We will see though...

if Dabo is hired… I don’t know how much I will watch

 

[2003TIDE]

Do you mean because Lanning is staying at Oregon? If so, that is assuming he is even the target. Everything that has been reported is just rumors and speculation.

Well Maze was on social media saying it was "done." Barrett Jones was apparently saying it was "Lanning." If any of that was the case, why go through the motions of interviewing other people if you already have your guy hired?

 

[Isaiah 63:1]

We're not even 24 hours into this process, and yet already many here are as panicky as when Rich Rod declined. Deep breaths, friends...

 

[KrAzY3]

if Dabo is hired… I don’t know how much I will watch

I only care about the success of Alabama's program, as long as they aren't letting things go on like Winston at FSU and what not.

I'd rather a coach I don't like personally win, than have another guy like Mike Shula standing there doing a horrible job but being liked by everyone.

 

[81usaf92]

I only care about the success of Alabama's program, as long as they aren't letting things go on like Winston at FSU and what not.

I'd rather a coach I don't like personally win, than have another guy like Mike Shula standing there doing a horrible job but being liked by everyone.

What since 2021 gives you the idea that Alabama would be successful with Dabo.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

Well Maze was on social media saying it was "done." Barrett Jones was apparently saying it was "Lanning." If any of that was the case, why go through the motions of interviewing other people if you already have your guy hired?

It really sounds to me like they weren't ready to break the news yet, but it leaked first. I'm willing to bet the plan was to have the replacement announced with the retirement, because as soon as the new gets out, the portal becomes open.

 

[countrytider]

Well Maze was on social media saying it was "done." Barrett Jones was apparently saying it was "Lanning." If any of that was the case, why go through the motions of interviewing other people if you already have your guy hired?

Because no plan was in place. Period.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

if Dabo is hired… I don’t know how much I will watch

I've coached travel baseball for almost ten years, and as you probably know or "heard", it is HIGHLY competitive and cut throat. One thing I've learned and have made a saying out of it (that I use often) is "Winning covers over a multitude of sins".

I get the angst and the disdain for Dabo, but I wonder if the hire was made and the guy came in, got a hold of the talent at Bama, and began hammering out conference championships and playoff final appearances, how long would you "not watch as much"?

 

[countrytider]

I know folks don’t want Kiffin, but at this point we can, and probably will do MUCH worse.