JessN: Saban’s going nowhere, but we like for you to be prepared

[4Q Basket Case]

Agreed, but I would tend to go with coordinator being the bigger jump, since at least at UL he was responsible for the entire program.

Now, I think if you have an established, long-time coordinator, a la Kirby (regardless of what he's done since leaving), that worked under the coach you never want to leave (Saban, Meyer for OSU, etc.) the coordinator route may be the way to go.

You’re making my point from another angle...that being, a single litmus test isn’t the best way. There are nuances, and meeting or failing a single shibboleth simply shouldn’t automatically qualify or disqualify anybody.

There are so many considerations: technical, psychological, personality, fit within the history of the program, ability to recruit, ability to fit current personnel to preferred philosophy....the list goes on.

It is so easy to pick holes, and so hard to choose a single human being.

If Dabo wants to be considered in GOAT territory he will have to win a title at another school, because that list is very short. Jumping to Bama right after Saban undoubtedly gives him a massive head start in accomplishing that.

I have no idea as to the exte of Dabo’s ego or his desire to be considered the GOAT, I was just tossing an odd reason to leave Clemson.

I’m not sure about the requirement of having won a NC at more than one school.

Bryant didn’t do that. Leahy, Rockne, Bowden, McKay, Delaney, Wilkinson, Osborne, Hayes, Schembechler ...shoot, even Wooden and Krzyzewski (another sport acknowledged) didn’t do that.

But Urban Meyer has. Is he better, because of that one accomplishment, than all of the other guys who haven’t? Unquestioned coaching ability acknowledged, I think not, primarily because of his mental fragility. You may see it differently.

I think Saban is the GOAT college football coach, even over Bryant, who I would rank as #2. Difference between the two is the restrictions under which Saban has operated, whereas Bryant had much more freedom.

The distinguishing factor that elevated both above everybody else was / is their ability to adapt as the game, written rules, and effective enforcement, evolve. Yet they remain true to a fundamental philosophy. That is an incredibly hard line to walk, yet both have done it better than anybody else who ever coached college football.

As far as the greatest college coach of all time, regardless of sport....has to be John Wooden.

 

[81usaf92]

If Dabo wants to be considered in GOAT territory he will have to win a title at another school, because that list is very short. Jumping to Bama right after Saban undoubtedly gives him a massive head start in accomplishing that.

I have no idea as to the exte of Dabo’s ego or his desire to be considered the GOAT, I was just tossing an odd reason to leave Clemson.

When he has a chance to be the Bear Bryant at one school and the Gene Stallings at another, why would He choose to be Gene Stallings?

 

[bama579]

Mark Stoops has made KY respectable. Not easy ti do in a sport with an oblong ball. Would rather have him than Pruitt at this point.

 

[TideEngineer08]

When he has a chance to be the Bear Bryant at one school and the Gene Stallings at another, why would He choose to be Gene Stallings?

This is it in a nutshell. We make a big deal out of "mama calling" because of Coach Bryant, but in what other profession is there this expectation that your alma mater holds some sway over your career choice? I have absolutely no desire to return to my alma mater for anything. I acknowledge sports are different because of the bonds created when playing the game at a school, still there is no reason to expect a guy to return based solely on that.

There are other factors. I know I would not uproot my family to go to a better job, no matter how great it was, when I was already at a great job. I know Alabama is special to him, but at this stage in his life, Clemson has to be more special.

 

[81usaf92]

This is it in a nutshell. We make a big deal out of "mama calling" because of Coach Bryant, but in what other profession is there this expectation that your alma mater holds some sway over your career choice? I have absolutely no desire to return to my alma mater for anything. I acknowledge sports are different because of the bonds created when playing the game at a school, still there is no reason to expect a guy to return based solely on that.

There are other factors. I know I would not uproot my family to go to a better job, no matter how great it was, when I was already at a great job. I know Alabama is special to him, but at this stage in his life, Clemson has to be more special.

Clemson is comfort and Alabama is stress. Clemson’s fan base will not turn on him on dry years for awhile, but how many NC dry years can get endure here?

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

DaBaxter, is that you?

Paul needs to stay retired

 

[DogPatch]

I'm on the Sark train.

The longer he stays on staff, the better I like his chances.

I also wouldn't rule out a Belichick disciple with some college experience, like Joe Judge, if can prove moderately successful with the New York football Giants.

 

[CoachJeff]

If Dabo wants to be considered in GOAT territory he will have to win a title at another school, because that list is very short. Jumping to Bama right after Saban undoubtedly gives him a massive head start in accomplishing that.

I have no idea as to the exte of Dabo’s ego or his desire to be considered the GOAT, I was just tossing an odd reason to leave Clemson.

Bear Bryant only won titles at one school. I think he's in GOAT territory.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

When asked about it Dabo always says "never say never". I always take that to mean if Alabama offers him a tremendous amount of money he'll take the job.

 

[81usaf92]

When asked about it Dabo always says "never say never". I always take that to mean if Alabama offers him a tremendous amount of money he'll take the job.

The problem is that Clemson can and will match it. The chances of Dabo taking the job probably hinge more on his wife wanting to make a return to Alabama or both getting bored living in South Carolina.

 

[BamaMoon]

All good arguments/analysis from every angle. But there's not one of us who actually knows what's deep down in Dabo's heart. The one thing we can be sure about is that Dabo has certainly considered that in all likelihood he'll coach longer than CNS. If CNS leaves in the near future (within the next 5 years) I think you have to make Dabo say "NO." But unless somebody has had a sit down with him about his deepest thoughts on this subject, nobody outside of his wife probably knows what he'd do.

 

[AlexanderFan]

consider Bear Bryant only won titles at one school. I think he's in GOAT territory.

The whole point of the post is that winning titles at more than one spot, including a spot in the SEC, would put Dabo in the talk of GOAT. If he won 6 titles at Clemson the first point of contention would be that he won all his titles at Clemson.

 

[81usaf92]

The whole point of the post is that winning titles at more than one spot, including a spot in the SEC, would put Dabo in the talk of GOAT. If he won 6 titles at Clemson the first point of contention would be that he won all his titles at Clemson.

But that is still 6 titles...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The problem is that Clemson can and will match it. The chances of Dabo taking the job probably hinge more on his wife wanting to make a return to Alabama or both getting bored living in South Carolina.

The amount of money the top 5 highest paid coaches are making is so much, that by the time Saban retires I really don't think money is going to be a big part of the equation for Dabo.

 

[81usaf92]

The amount of money the top 5 highest paid coaches are making is so much, that by the time Saban retires I really don't think money is going to be a big part of the equation for Dabo.

Yep. I was more addressing the idea that Clemson couldn’t keep him if Alabama started talking 0’s. Bottom line it is going to come down to if Dabo wants the job, and his wife is down to move. He has raised his family at Clemson, and I really believe that factors into the comfort aspect of it. I think Dabo will get a call from Alabama when Saban retires, but I think he will say “no thank you”.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Yep. I was more addressing the idea that Clemson couldn’t keep him if Alabama started talking 0’s. Bottom line it is going to come down to if Dabo wants the job, and his wife is down to move. He has raised his family at Clemson, and I really believe that factors into the comfort aspect of it. I think Dabo will get a call from Alabama when Saban retires, but I think he will say “no thank you”.

Just do quick math on his base salary that he's already collected from 2017 until now. It's in excess of $30 million dollars, and that's not factoring in all the incentive pay/bonuses that we know he's been paid. He's probably pocketed 40+ million just since 2017.

 

[dtgreg]

Bear Bryant only won titles at one school. I think he's in GOAT territory.

I still don't know why Bryant isn't credited with a Natty for 1950 at Kentucky. At least a partial.

 

[CoachJeff]

I still don't know why Bryant isn't credited with a Natty for 1950 at Kentucky. At least a partial.

Because they were second in the SEC and finished 7th in the polls.

 

[TideEngineer08]

When asked about it Dabo always says "never say never". I always take that to mean if Alabama offers him a tremendous amount of money he'll take the job.

I think he’s just being nice

I still don't know why Bryant isn't credited with a Natty for 1950 at Kentucky. At least a partial.

The thing is he probably would have won one at Kentucky had he stayed longer. He almost assuredly would have won one at Texas A&M.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I think he’s just being nice

The thing is he probably would have won one at Kentucky had he stayed longer. He almost assuredly would have won one at Texas A&M.

What if he had stayed at Maryland?