Alabama HC Nick Saban Retires

[ulukinatme]

I think Saban is done as well. I'm sure the itch is still there, but the whole NIL thing has changed the system a lot. He's got an impeccable football legacy at this point, if he stays retired he doesn't risk tarnishing it. There may be a few programs, including Alabama, that could entice him...but I think he's enjoying what he's doing now. I honestly like the team of him and McAfee on Gameday. It's a classic pairing, Pat is over the top with passion and Saban is reserved and analytical. They compliment each other well.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I could see FSU or UF kicking the tires if they move on from Norvell (unlikely) or Napier (likely if they miss a bowl).

Don't think it happens, but he'll certainly have people calling.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

I know it’s what everyone’s talking about, but does “coach again” necessarily mean head coach? An assistant type role would make too much sense here. Still get to be around football, can basically pick your program (easy to create a role/no need to wait for HC vacancy), more flexible hours, can offload NIL to someone else, etc.

I know he respects the hell out of ND lately, and I’d love it if we had the discussion and he hopped on board. The hype train would officially be off the rails.

 

[calvegas04]

Maybe Tenn?

 

[greyhammer90]

I know it’s what everyone’s talking about, but does “coach again” necessarily mean head coach? An assistant type role would make too much sense here. Still get to be around football, can basically pick your program (easy to create a role/no need to wait for HC vacancy), more flexible hours, can offload NIL to someone else, etc.

I know he respects the hell out of ND lately, and I’d love it if we had the discussion and he hopped on board. The hype train would officially be off the rails.

Beyond the absurdity of imagining Saban accepting a non-HC role outside of Bama ambassador of football, I can't imagine a lot of head coaches would be thrilled to have Nick Saban as an available option for interim head coach. Feels like you'd be dancing with the devil there.

 

[ulukinatme]

I could see FSU or UF kicking the tires if they move on from Norvell (unlikely) or Napier (likely if they miss a bowl).

Don't think it happens, but he'll certainly have people calling.

Do either have a lot of money? Florida got lucky with the Meyer hire (They can thank Boob for talking him out of coming to ND). I don't see Florida hitting it big for awhile at least, not while Georgia is up, Alabama is still Alabama, and Texas is now a part of the SEC. Last I heard FSU didn't have a ton of money, I think things will only get worse for the Seminoles in the NIL era.

 

[NDRock]

Not a chance he wants to deal with NIL again or, even more importantly, that Miss Terry lets him. He surely misses some of it, especially as it was a few years ago, but he's done.

I like the narrative of Bama fans that Saban is some torch bearer for amateurism and the purity of college football and just couldn’t work in the current corrupt environment of college football. Dude is a control freak (in a great way for a coach ) and didn’t want to work in a system where he wasn’t guaranteed to be at the top. It’s why he bailed on the NFL as quickly as he did.

This is not taking anything away from his success. The guy absolutely dominated his era.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I like the narrative of Bama fans that Saban is some torch bearer for amateurism and the purity of college football and just couldn’t work in the current corrupt environment of college football. Dude is a control freak (in a great way for a coach ) and didn’t want to work in a system where he wasn’t guaranteed to be at the top. It’s why he bailed on the NFL as quickly as he did.

This is not taking anything away from his success. The guy absolutely dominated his era.

I think you're missing the point. Saban was always about attitude and work ethic with players: "What do I have to do to get better?" With NIL, he said the attitude became overwhelmingly, "What's in it for me? How much am I gonna get? How much playing time can you guarantee me?" Not "How are you gonna help me develop into the best player I can be?"

 

[Irish#1]

I like the narrative of Bama fans that Saban is some torch bearer for amateurism and the purity of college football and just couldn’t work in the current corrupt environment of college football. Dude is a control freak (in a great way for a coach ) and didn’t want to work in a system where he wasn’t guaranteed to be at the top. It’s why he bailed on the NFL as quickly as he did.

This is not taking anything away from his success. The guy absolutely dominated his era.

I think you're missing the point. Saban was always about attitude and work ethic with players: "What do I have to do to get better?" With NIL, he said the attitude became overwhelmingly, "What's in it for me? How much am I gonna get? How much playing time can you guarantee me?" Not "How are you gonna help me develop into the best player I can be?"

I think you're both saying the same thing. Just in a different way.

 

[NDRock]

I think you're both saying the same thing. Just in a different way.

No we’re not. I was being facetious. College football has always been corrupt but Saban didn’t mind as much when he had a monopoly on 5 star talent with no rel options to leave.

 

[NDRock]

I think you're missing the point. Saban was always about attitude and work ethic with players: "What do I have to do to get better?" With NIL, he said the attitude became overwhelmingly, "What's in it for me? How much am I gonna get? How much playing time can you guarantee me?" Not "How are you gonna help me develop into the best player I can be?"

Then find the players with that attitude and work ethic. Thats the job of a modern day head coach. Create that culture. I don’t hear Freeman whining about today’s players. The fact is talent had become more dispersed amongst the top teams and Saban didn’t like it. He liked the old system. Don’t blame him. Most businesses would prefer their employees to have no rights or options to leave.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Saban saw what was coming and he bailed out. I don't blame him one bit for it on multiple levels. He's in his 70s, his wife has not been in the best of health if I'm recalling correctly (??) and has a legacy that's rather intact. He could have chosen to go on and keep coaching, but he cashed his chips in.

Yes, he was not going to be able to hoard talent. The shift all but happened. UGA won two, now the Big Ten have won two. Saban saw the writing on the wall and figured it wasn't worth it.

He's also one of these guys who probably hates the fact that these kids are getting compensated above board and more handsomely than ever. Says it in a different tone than Dabo, is all.

Freeman is young enough and has the adapt, overcome, achieve attitude for the job in present day.

 

[greyhammer90]

No we’re not. I was being facetious. College football has always been corrupt but Saban didn’t mind as much when he had a monopoly on 5 star talent with no rel options to leave.

ESPN is doing their damndest to pretend like he's pre-scandal Joe Pa and make him into the old papaw of college football who just "wants things done the right way". Like he isn't the same psychopath competitor who exploited every loophole (made greyshirting/medical retirements a common practice) or constantly lobbied for rule changes that would help him when the no huddle spread came into popularity, or even this past year stumped for a bad Bama team to make the playoffs.

 

[NDRock]

ESPN is doing their damndest to pretend like he's pre-scandal Joe Pa and make him into the old papaw of college football who just "wants things done the right way". Like he isn't the same psychopath competitor who exploited every loophole (made greyshirting/medical retirements a common practice) or constantly lobbied for rule changes that would help him when the no huddle spread came into popularity, or even this past year stumped for a bad Bama team to make the playoffs.

Saban saw what was coming and he bailed out. I don't blame him one bit for it on multiple levels. He's in his 70s, his wife has not been in the best of health if I'm recalling correctly (??) and has a legacy that's rather intact. He could have chosen to go on and keep coaching, but he cashed his chips in.

Yes, he was not going to be able to hoard talent. The shift all but happened. UGA won two, now the Big Ten have won two. Saban saw the writing on the wall and figured it wasn't worth it.

He's also one of these guys who probably hates the fact that these kids are getting compensated above board and more handsomely than ever. Says it in a different tone than Dabo, is all.

Freeman is young enough and has the adapt, overcome, achieve attitude for the job in present day.

Agree. I don't think of Saban as a shady coach and would have taken him at ND any time (unlike Urban and quite a few others). I'm sure he had a few Sam Gilberts around to help with player retention. I just don't like his moral high horse he's on. This is the same guy who wanted to eliminate the no huddle offense in the name of "player safety". It had nothing to do with spread QBs like Johnny Football running past his slow linebackers he recruited. I don't recall him ever getting mad at the NCAA after they essentially let Cam Newton get paid through a 3rd party. Odd that he didn't want those types of deals to be investigated more but seems very concerned with the above the board type dealings.

 

[yankeehater]

Auburn should hire him just to really spice up their rivalry with Bama.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Agree. I don't think of Saban as a shady coach and would have taken him at ND any time (unlike Urban and quite a few others). I'm sure he had a few Sam Gilberts around to help with player retention. I just don't like his moral high horse he's on. This is the same guy who wanted to eliminate the no huddle offense in the name of "player safety". It had nothing to do with spread QBs like Johnny Football running past his slow linebackers he recruited. I don't recall him ever getting mad at the NCAA after they essentially let Cam Newton get paid through a 3rd party. Odd that he didn't want those types of deals to be investigated more but seems very concerned with the above the board type dealings.

I have the same issue with Dabo. STFU, coach football and collect your millions.

Saban was a typical self serving college football coach. Wanted whatever was going to be best for him and benefit his program. He's going to go down as the best college football coach ever, whether anyone likes it or not, so he should walk away at this point and count his blessings.

 

[ulukinatme]

In related news They must have the $60+ mil to buy out BK's contract ready and waiting.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Great story I heard today on Saban. Gentleman I met today in Oxford just retired as a CFB ref. He had been working the SEC the last years of his career. He & Saban were in each other’s wedding so they were clearly friends. He was working LSU @ Bama game one year and made a controversial call on the Bama sidelines that went against Bama. Saban saw the whole thing & knew the ref had made the right call. But the 100K+ fans disagreed. So Coach Saban got in the ref’s face & started yelling. But he was yelling things like “Where are you eating dinner tonight after the game?” The ref said something to the effect of “WTF are you talking about?!”. Saban explained that while the call on the field was correct he still had to look like he was fighting for the 100K fans in the stadium that thought it was wrong. So he started pointing his finger in the ref’s face & saying things like “If you have time please stop by the house after dinner & say catch up with Terri & me”. It was hilarious & made perfect sense.

 

[FWIrish4]

Great story I heard today on Saban. Gentleman I met today in Oxford just retired as a CFB ref. He had been working the SEC the last years of his career. He & Saban were in each other’s wedding so they were clearly friends. He was working LSU @ Bama game one year and made a controversial call on the Bama sidelines that went against Bama. Saban saw the whole thing & knew the ref had made the right call. But the 100K+ fans disagreed. So Coach Saban got in the ref’s face & started yelling. But he was yelling things like “Where are you eating dinner tonight after the game?” The ref said something to the effect of “WTF are you talking about?!”. Saban explained that while the call on the field was correct he still had to look like he was fighting for the 100K fans in the stadium that thought it was wrong. So he started pointing his finger in the ref’s face & saying things like “If you have time please stop by the house after dinner & say catch up with Terri & me”. It was hilarious & made perfect sense.

Am I crazy for thinking this man should have never reffed a single Alabama game while Saban was the coach? What is going on here?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Am I crazy for thinking this man should have never reffed a single Alabama game while Saban was the coach? What is going on here?

The call did go against Bama. It occurred to me too but then I realized the SEC coaches know all the refs & could even be friends with some of them. He said the only games he asked not to ref were Ole Miss home games since he lived in Oxford & didn’t want to get blowback when he made a bad call or a crucial call vs Ole Miss.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I really have my doubts he'd come back, but anything is possible these days. The more you try to make things make sense, the less they do.

Personally, I think he'd be nuts to coach again. His legacy is in tact. If he needs money, that's one thing, but at this point he's got nothing to prove.

 

[sixstar]

the guy is 73 years old and has generational wealth. he will go down as one of, if not, the best CFB coach all time. he's won multiple championships. he has already accomplished everything. what would motivate him to return at this point?

fatigue is real, especially when you are approach mid-70s. and trying to navigate today's NIL landscape. i don't see a logical reason that would draw him back to coaching.

 

[dublinirish]

the guy is 73 years old and has generational wealth. he will go down as one of, if not, the best CFB coach all time. he's won multiple championships. he has already accomplished everything. what would motivate him to return at this point?

fatigue is real, especially when you are approach mid-70s. and trying to navigate today's NIL landscape. i don't see a logical reason that would draw him back to coaching.

if his wife died he would definitely go back to coaching, like what else is he gonna do

 

[NDBoiler]

if his wife died he would definitely go back to coaching, like what else is he gonna do

Operate his no games/no fun Airbnbs

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I can see Saban returning in a CEO role that delegates literally every aspect of the day-to-day. If all he had to do was coach because he had the people hired around him to take care of everything else, I can see it happening. These guys are all cut from the same cloth. They're ultra competitive and have spent their entire life dedicated to the sport. It's their identity. Players would play forever if they could. I view coaching the same way. They will coach until they literally just can't do it anymore if given the right circumstances.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

..:fatigue is real, especially when you are approach mid-70s…

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

the guy is 73 years old and has generational wealth. he will go down as one of, if not, the best CFB coach all time. he's won multiple championships. he has already accomplished everything. what would motivate him to return at this point?

fatigue is real, especially when you are approach mid-70s. and trying to navigate today's NIL landscape. i don't see a logical reason that would draw him back to coaching.

Are we sure?

I read that he was often using Texas as leverage to keep getting raises because the Great Recession hit him pretty hard (investments went bad?).

I'm sure he's probably fine by now and agree with all you're saying. Juice isn't worth the squeeze for him to return. I really doubt he does.

 

[FWIrish4]

The call did go against Bama. It occurred to me too but then I realized the SEC coaches know all the refs & could even be friends with some of them. He said the only games he asked not to ref were Ole Miss home games since he lived in Oxford & didn’t want to get blowback when he made a bad call or a crucial call vs Ole Miss.

I’m not saying he’s a bad dude or had biases while reffing but there’s a massive difference between being friendly/friends and being in one’s wedding lol

 

[dublinirish]

Are we sure?

I read that he was often using Texas as leverage to keep getting raises because the Great Recession hit him pretty hard (investments went bad?).

I'm sure he's probably fine by now and agree with all you're saying. Juice isn't worth the squeeze for him to return. I really doubt he does.

his net worth is 70 mil lol

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I’m not saying he’s a bad dude or had biases while reffing but there’s a massive difference between being friendly/friends and being in one’s wedding lol

Yeah, it’s a fair question. I’m sure I’ll see him again this year so I’ll ask him. He & his brother played at Kent St w/ Saban. He added that Gary Pinkel & Jack Lambert were both on that roster.