I don't understand the fascination with Chip Kelly. IMO whoever hires him is going to get exactly what they deserve. I believe he is a one hit wonder (Oregon) and won't be nearly as successful in the future as he's been in the past. We'll see.
Never say never, but Saban just did an interview a couple of days ago saying he wasn't going anywhere. Maybe he was lying but.....? If Texas with all of their money, couldn't lure him away, why would he go back to the NFL? When you get down to it, Saban has never shown any indication he wants to go anywhere. He has been here for 9 years. I know there are folks on here who don't like the state of Alabama, but let me tell you, I have lived all over the country and Alabama isn't so bad. Wait, wait, scratch that, Alabama is a terrible place to live. I would advise anyone that is not here now to do whatever is necessary to avoid this place. :wink: Now as far as who is next after Saban, I'm not sure but I think him being here for so long indicates that maybe the Head Coaching job at Alabama is a pretty good gig. Sweeney may be the guy, but I'm not sure. There are a few that have been here and understand the culture. Hopefully we don't have to worry about it for a few more years.
I don't why Saban would go back to the NFL either, kp. He's got a shot at being one of the greatest coaches in college football history. He has a great situation at Alabama, has the entire University and the alumni behind him, tremendous resources. The only reason would be ego. On another note, Irish fans or I should say some Irish fans think Kelly does desire to go to the NFL. That if asked to interview for the Giants or Colts job he will. He's denied it in a way that leaves him some wiggle room.
Saban isn't going anywhere. He's making history and setting the bar at Alabama and he's doing it in a time of the game at it's peak. No offense to Bear Bryant at all, but as great as Alabama was under him, you were always one of the legends of the game. Under Saban, you are the game. The story of the title question begins and ends with you each year. Even the Bear dropped off, Saban's "let downs" once he had the system in place were things like Sugar Bowl losses after a 10 or 11 win season. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Saban and Alabama football. It really is time to start looking in the mirror and wonder if you've finally gone beyond the Houndstooth.... because you have.
Corey, It's probably a matter of age. It's not a matter of moving beyond the Houndstooth, it's a matter of building on the Houndstooth. Coach Bryant personified the people of Alabama but he has been gone for 35 years so there are 2 generations that never saw him live. I know you weren't here then, but the truth is Coach Bryant was more than Alabama football. His personality permeated the social fabric of Alabama. If you look back, Alabama in the 70's was close to a dynasty and that was a time of some great football with some great coaches around the country. Even Auburn fans, in their heart of hearts, knew he WAS Alabama, even though they would never admit it. Saban is a great coach and has created something very special. He has been here for 9 yrs. and if he sticks around for another 15 years and maintains this level of success, then we can talk, but even then he can only aspire to be as good as Bryant, never surpass him.
Hard to imagine in today's world any coach becoming what the Bear was to Alabama, or Daryl Royal to Texas, or John McKay to USC, Bo, Woody, Ara, etc. Coaches are micro analyzed today by the media.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25435093/miami-hires-manny-diaz-from-mississippi-state-to-be-defensive-coordinator Miami hires Manny Diaz from Mississippi State to be new DC By Robby Kalland | Staff Writer January 2, 2016 3:39 pm ET Manny Diaz (USATSI) Manny Diaz has been hired as Miami's new defensive coordinator. (USATSI) The University of Miami made another major coaching hire on Saturday when the school announced that Mississippi State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz accepted the same position in Coral Gables. "I'm very excited about Manny Diaz becoming our defensive coordinator," Miami coach Mark Richt said in a press release. "I've known him for over 20 years and I've watched him become one of the best defensive minds in the business. He and our defensive staff will implement a 4-3 attacking style defense. I'm looking forward to working with Manny." "Starkville is a special place and I could not be more thankful for the opportunity Dan Mullen and Scott Stricklin gave my family and I," Diaz said. "The Bulldog fans are like no other and it has been a privilege to be a part of such a great program, University and community. I wish the MSU players, coaches and fans all the best. Their future is bright. We knew it would take a very unique opportunity for us to consider leaving. God blessed me with a chance to return home, to coach in my hometown and to reunite with family. It is the kind of opportunity that comes along rarely in this business. It was simply too good to pass up. I can't wait to help Coach Richt build a championship program at Miami." Diaz, born in Miami, will return to the area for the first time in his coaching career. Diaz has made many stops in his coaching career that began as a grad assistant at Florida State. He then followed Chuck Amato to North Carolina State, where he was from 2000-2005 before taking the defensive coordinator job at Middle Tennessee State. Diaz then went to Mississippi State in 2010 as defensive coordinator before going to the Texas Longhorns from 2011-13. He made a one-year stop in 2014 at Louisiana Tech before returning to Mississippi State for the 2015 season. Mississippi State finished the 2015 season 36th in scoring defense (23.2 ppg), 70th in rushing defense (174.6 ypg) and 57th in pass defense (216.5 ypg). Diaz will bring a very aggressive defensive style to the Hurricanes, as he frequently sends extra pressure to try and create negative plays for opposing offenses. The Bulldogs were 12th in the nation in tackles for loss this season with 98 and were 41st in sacks with 30. Miami, in comparison, was 95th in tackles for loss in 2015 (66) and 64th in sacks (26). With the athletes Miami is able to recruit, Diaz's aggressive style should be a good fit for the Hurricanes. His pension for bringing extra blitzers puts a premium on having defensive backs that can handle one-on-one assignments and make tackles in the open field. Diaz seems excited to be returning to his hometown and his comfort in that region should be a positive in recruiting for the Hurricanes. This wasn't a hire many expected, but it seems like a really good hire for Mark Richt as he puts together a strong staff in Coral Gables. Rumor is Richt wanted to hire Dave Aranda and offered $1mill but was outbid by LSU...
Manny Diaz...good luck with that hire. :? He was a light weight at Texas, but maybe he's learned some things since then.
Eeehhhhh hate to hear that...He's receiving mixed reviews from Cane fans at the news of the hire...Time will tell...?
Thank you Don, I agree there is a lot of optimism with the hiring of Richt... Happy New Year to you and your family...
Ok Terry tell me about Stacy Searels who was at Vtech this season but at Texas earlier... http://youtu.be/47LTYNGZDJU
Thanks Terry much appreciated, we will most definitely have an SEC flavor to our team next season with all these coaches coming from the SEC. This years recruiting contest is coming a little too fast to capitalize on the new coaching staff but next season should be interesting. The coaching staff's credentials reminds me of the Jimmy Johnson era where every coach was worth their salt..
I got a late Christmas present today! Jake Spavital is OFFICIALLY GONE!! This is addition by subtraction. Whoever we get will be better... no matter what!
So who are the rumored targets Scott? BTW do you like your OL coach? Since Mike Sherman left and left you with a bevy of NFL OL's...it seems like those guys as they have moved on have not been replaced.