That is what I am pulling for - 10 more years.But that's not going to be for at least 10 more years. Right? Right??
That is what I am pulling for - 10 more years.But that's not going to be for at least 10 more years. Right? Right??
Until Mama calls......I really believe that pulling Dabo from CU would be not only incredibly difficult, but impossible. I've lived in the Clemson area -- it is beautiful with lakes and the Blue Ridge mountains close behind. He is WORSHIPPED and ADORED but still has a good level of privacy and family life. He can get anything he wants from a school that has the best athletic support -- academic and otherwise -- that I have ever seen. He's cracked the recruiting nut -- gets his top choices just about every year. The ACC is not the "forced march grind" that is the SEC -- and helps rather than hurts him as long as he dominates. HIs faith is important to him -- and CU has traditionally had the largest FCA program in the country. There is also a large, conservative evangelical church a few miles down the road which has adopted him as their favored son. He has surpassed Frank Howard and Danny Ford in the Clemson pantheon -- and has Bobby Bowden status in the ACC.
I know we all think that the sun rises and sets in Tuscaloosa with Bama football...but not every one thinks that way -- even favored sons and daughters. The microscope is much finer in Alabama than in Clemson. In this universe Bama can offer him nothing that CU doesn't...I can't believe I wrote that, but at this time it is true. And unless he drives the bus into a ditch, I don't see that happening.
We better look at other options...and certainly in 6-8 years there will be several.
I might quit watching if they hired Freeze.Nice write-up, Jess. That was well thought out . I think Saban will coach until he can't due to medical reasons.
I assume he has a list already made of the top 6 candidates he'd like to be the next head coach at Bama. He probably updates it each year. Hopefully, that list will not be needed for the next 10 years.
My personal list of current possibilities would be :
1. Dabo (ask at least 3 times before moving on to the next person)
2. Cristobal
3. Pruitt (if he does well at TN consistently)
4. Kiffin (if he has success at Ole Miss and behaves consistently)
5. Sark
I do not want Urban Meyer or Hugh Freeze.. good coaches but I don't trust them at all.
Whoever is on Saban's list will be good enough for me. RTR.
I probably should have included him on this list because a lot of people -- and I mean a lot -- consider him one of the best pure coaches of football not named Nick Saban.I might quit watching if they hired Freeze.
I will give you two compelling reasons. One you have covered. That’s the one about his school. The one he grew up loving, the one he walked on , when he could have had help at a smaller school. That sacrifice is huge , don’t discount that.I really believe that pulling Dabo from CU would be not only incredibly difficult, but impossible. I've lived in the Clemson area -- it is beautiful with lakes and the Blue Ridge mountains close behind. He is WORSHIPPED and ADORED but still has a good level of privacy and family life. He can get anything he wants from a school that has the best athletic support -- academic and otherwise -- that I have ever seen. He's cracked the recruiting nut -- gets his top choices just about every year. The ACC is not the "forced march grind" that is the SEC -- and helps rather than hurts him as long as he dominates. HIs faith is important to him -- and CU has traditionally had the largest FCA program in the country. There is also a large, conservative evangelical church a few miles down the road which has adopted him as their favored son. He has surpassed Frank Howard and Danny Ford in the Clemson pantheon -- and has Bobby Bowden status in the ACC.
I know we all think that the sun rises and sets in Tuscaloosa with Bama football...but not every one thinks that way -- even favored sons and daughters. The microscope is much finer in Alabama than in Clemson. In this universe Bama can offer him nothing that CU doesn't...I can't believe I wrote that, but at this time it is true. And unless he drives the bus into a ditch, I don't see that happening.
We better look at other options...and certainly in 6-8 years there will be several.
FISHER WON A Natty( put that in because some don’t like that term). , Kirby played in the CFBP CG, Dantonio made it to the playoffs. Cristobal won the PAC12, I’m sure I’m missing some.Is there a Saban assistant that has had much success as a head coach?
Good post...I get when people say "Mamma called..." However, I just don't get that with Dabo. I'm not a flag waver for him -- but I cannot deny that he has built a really strong program. Did he have good athletes? Yes...but he also brought in even better athletes...I will give you two compelling reasons. One you have covered. That’s the one about his school. The one he grew up loving, the one he walked on , when he could have had help at a smaller school. That sacrifice is huge , don’t discount that.
the second, if he is truly a competitor, the Calling for something more challenging . The same reasons college coaches try the NFL. You want to do it against the best. Except Dabo is a college coach, and has little interest in the NFL. The SEC is the most competitive conference in CFB. He will be challenged weekly. And to do it at a school he grew up loving, his home state school. The most decorated school arguably in college football. Clemson will never compare to that. Sure he could win 12 games a year for the next 10 years and Clemson will still be Clemson. Unless FSU or Miami can figure things out, the ACC will always be a second rate football league. If he is really a competitor, He will want to be challenged, or he could stay in his comfort zone , and win those 12 games a year. And wonder how he would have fared against consistently better competition.
With all that said, I think he will stay at Clemson. Not because of the reasons you gave, but more because he and his family have been there long enough to put down roots. They are a Clemson family. His kids go there or went there. I for one hope we go in a different direction Than Dabo, but I don’t think any coachsearch committee would be doing their due dilligence if they don’t at least put out feelers. Plus I think he does want to coach at Alabama , just not any time soon. But when the GOAT retires, in 5-6 years , will that be long enough for his ‘Clemson family‘ to move on to lives of their own . I don’t know. I guess we will see.
I imagine if Stallings is still around, he will tell Dabo to take itI think plan A-Z has to be Dabo and then if that don't happen then I would consider a guy like Chris Petersen. By the time Nick retires, it would have been a few years out of CFB for Petersen and maybe he might be interested in returning to football. If Petersen is off the table, then whoever is the hot coaching name of the day.
I think Dabo comes if Bama and more specifically Gene Stallings give his blessing. You can take the man out of Alabama but not the Alabama out of the man.
I think people forget fans at OK wanted to fire Venables before Dabo hired him. I don't think anyone was saying Dabo struck gold when he hired Venables back then. I remember the melt down OK fans had after they loss 55-14 in the Orange Bowl with everything on the line. They were even money in that game. OK had some monumental break downs while Brent was there. Clemson was never a bottom of the barrel program but they were never near what they are now. Clemson won a National Championship in 1981. Before Dabo their last ACC championship was 1991. Dabo came on the scene in 2008 by 2011 he had won the ACC. By 2015 he had his program ahead of FSU and shortly after ran off Jimbo Fisher. The guy has won the ACC from 2015 to the present day. I know the ACC is weak but it was weak from 1982 to 2011 also and Clemson could not win the ACC.If he comes without Venables, will he have success? Not sure Venables would come to Alabama with him.