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Speculate: Who would be on Bama's short list if Saban goes to NFL?

G

gamecockcat

Heisman
Oct 29, 2004
10,524
13,501
0
I don't think he'll go anywhere other than back to Tuscaloosa win, lose or draw on Monday. However, I was wondering who might be on the short list if he surprises everyone and tries the NFL again.

I've heard Dabo and Jimbo Fisher. Certainly I think Dabo would leap immediately at the job, Jimbo, I'm not so sure. He's got a damn good program now at FSU with an easier road to the CFP than being at Bama in the SECW. Plus, he (or whoever takes the job) will be 'the guy after THE GUY' and that's never a good place to be (Jimbo's already been him, following Bobby Bowden). Bama would certainly throw big dollars at him but he's making big dollars already. Bama job > FSU but it's also a LOT more demanding, I would think.

Chip Kelly? I don't think so. While he'd be a winner, I think his control issues might rub some the wrong way and I don't think his style of football would appeal to the Bama faithful. Just a guess.

Who else would be serious candidates?
 
U

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
gamecockcat said:
I don't think he'll go anywhere other than back to Tuscaloosa win, lose or draw on Monday. However, I was wondering who might be on the short list if he surprises everyone and tries the NFL again.

I've heard Dabo and Jimbo Fisher. Certainly I think Dabo would leap immediately at the job, Jimbo, I'm not so sure. He's got a damn good program now at FSU with an easier road to the CFP than being at Bama in the SECW. Plus, he (or whoever takes the job) will be 'the guy after THE GUY' and that's never a good place to be (Jimbo's already been him, following Bobby Bowden). Bama would certainly throw big dollars at him but he's making big dollars already. Bama job > FSU but it's also a LOT more demanding, I would think.

Chip Kelly? I don't think so. While he'd be a winner, I think his control issues might rub some the wrong way and I don't think his style of football would appeal to the Bama faithful. Just a guess.

Who else would be serious candidates?
Click to expand...

If Alabama wants to keep winning national titles/being in contention for them each year I think the redneck Alabama fans would get over "style of play" real quick with Kelly. Just IMO.
 
U

ukgrad83

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2009
931
1,403
0
Might go after some former NFL coaches (Gruden, Cowher). Would love to see them go after Tressel. The wailing from Big 10 fans would be hilarious.
 
G

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,363
37,091
113
gamecockcat said:
I don't think he'll go anywhere other than back to Tuscaloosa win, lose or draw on Monday. However, I was wondering who might be on the short list if he surprises everyone and tries the NFL again.

I've heard Dabo and Jimbo Fisher. Certainly I think Dabo would leap immediately at the job, Jimbo, I'm not so sure. He's got a damn good program now at FSU with an easier road to the CFP than being at Bama in the SECW. Plus, he (or whoever takes the job) will be 'the guy after THE GUY' and that's never a good place to be (Jimbo's already been him, following Bobby Bowden). Bama would certainly throw big dollars at him but he's making big dollars already. Bama job > FSU but it's also a LOT more demanding, I would think.

Chip Kelly? I don't think so. While he'd be a winner, I think his control issues might rub some the wrong way and I don't think his style of football would appeal to the Bama faithful. Just a guess.

Who else would be serious candidates?
Click to expand...

Control issue? That's the least of the reasons he wouldn't go, Saban has complete control of the football program including budget, no one tells Saban no at Bama. But they better win big and I am not talking SEC championships.. If Saban did leave and I don't think he is looking to leave Kelly and Dabo would be their first 2 choices and I don't know the order. Fisher might be the next if needed, but probably wouldn't get past Dabo.
 
B

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
21,619
0
UKGrad83 said:
Have to wonder if he'd go back after being fired from there?
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The entire staff was fired, not just him. When you go 3-9/3-5 at Alabama, that happens. He grew up an hour from Bama, played football there, coached there, has 2 degrees from there. Using an Eddie Sutton quote, Dabo would crawl to Bama for that job and I don't think there is anyone else they would look at if he keeps this up at Clemson.
 
M

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
bthaunert said:
The entire staff was fired, not just him. When you go 3-9/3-5 at Alabama, that happens. He grew up an hour from Bama, played football there, coached there, has 2 degrees from there. Using an Eddie Sutton quote, Dabo would crawl to Bama for that job and I don't think there is anyone else they would look at if he keeps this up at Clemson.
Click to expand...

Different AD fired that staff I think.
 
J

jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
As long as it isn't Stoops I don't care who it is.

Given a choice though, I would prefer that they hire Joker------although I am pretty sure he would surprise a lot of our fans if he had their resources. He had maybe half what UK has now while he was here.
 
A

andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK

Senior
Nov 29, 2015
1,735
627
0
jauk11 said:
As long as it isn't Stoops I don't care who it is.

Given a choice though, I would prefer that they hire Joker------although I am pretty sure he would surprise a lot of our fans if he had their resources. He had maybe half what UK has now while he was here.
Click to expand...
Alabama would not dare STOOP to a level so low where they would want stoops. Alabama football will never be that bad and desperate of a job.
 
U

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
jauk11 said:
As long as it isn't Stoops I don't care who it is.

Given a choice though, I would prefer that they hire Joker------although I am pretty sure he would surprise a lot of our fans if he had their resources. He had maybe half what UK has now while he was here.
Click to expand...

1. You do not have to worry about anyone close to Alabama's level taking Stoops.
2. Joker would not do jack at Alabama. Plenty of coaches have sucked at big name schools like Alabama, OSU, ND, etc. I guess you didn't see the Mike Shula years, the OSU coordinator who HC's OSU for a year before Urban whose name escapes me and so on.
 
B

Blueworld_3.0

Heisman
Sep 23, 2008
14,047
11,110
0
Funny that somebody called Bama fans "rednecks". Until you've been to Alabama and experienced the madness that is Bama/Auburn, you have no idea how massive football is in that state. It's just different. For example, I know people here in KY that don't care about any sports whatsoever. That isn't the case in Alabama. Everyone, every family is into that football program down there. And it's a 70/30 Bama:Auburn fans ratio.
When Saban leaves they may rename the stadium after him. But, Sweeney will be the #1 choice and it will be a long way back to whomever the #2 choice is.
 
N

NCukcat62

All-Conference
Jul 22, 2007
8,893
3,671
0
jauk11 said:
As long as it isn't Stoops I don't care who it is.

Given a choice though, I would prefer that they hire Joker------although I am pretty sure he would surprise a lot of our fans if he had their resources. He had maybe half what UK has now while he was here.
Click to expand...
You actually believe Alabama would go after stoops?
 
B

BlueBallz_rivals30790

All-Conference
Mar 26, 2003
5,688
1,812
0
Dabo would probably be the one, if not him, I suspect they'd go after someone tied to Bama. The interesting name I'd throw out, which wouldn't happen, is Hugh Freeze. Imagine his recruiting at Alabama.
 
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G

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,363
37,091
113
BlueBallz said:
Dabo would probably be the one, if not him, I suspect they'd go after someone tied to Bama. The interesting name I'd throw out, which wouldn't happen, is Hugh Freeze. Imagine his recruiting at Alabama.
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That's an interesting name. OM came close to winning the West this year, if not for that crazy lateral play by Arkansas in OT they would have won it. That could lead to bloodshed between those 2 states. But Freeze is an OM guy, but Bama would offer enough to make it interesting.
 
John Henry

John Henry

Hall of Famer
Aug 18, 2007
35,574
172,792
113
Grumpyolddawg said:
That's an interesting name. OM came close to winning the West this year, if not for that crazy lateral play by Arkansas in OT they would have won it. That could lead to bloodshed between those 2 states. But Freeze is an OM guy, but Bama would offer enough to make it interesting.
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I agree on Freeze. He is an Ole Miss man and I am old enough to remember the Johnny Vaught v. Bear Bryant days. Some of the best football in SEC history. An Ole Miss man going to coach at Alabama would be like a UK coach or ex coach going to coach at UL. That would never happen. Right?
 
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U

ukalumni00

Heisman
Jun 22, 2005
23,316
38,956
113
Knowing some Clemson fans, they all agree that if Saban ever leaves and Dabo keeps the mojo going at Clemson he is their first and only pick. Its the only job they all think he would leave Clemson for. Played there for Stallings. Have to think him having to play Bama for a title next week has got to be a weird feeling because he is a Bama guy coaching at Clemson.
 
M

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
Sawnee Cat said:
I agree on Freeze. He is an Ole Miss man and I am old enough to remember the Johnny Vaught v. Bear Bryant days. Some of the best football in SEC history. An Ole Miss man going to coach at Alabama would be like a UK coach or ex coach going to coach at UL. We all that would never happen. Right?
Click to expand...

Crazy things happen with coaches, guess it's money driven. Don't forget Vince Dooley coached at Georgia but played at Auburn while Pat Dye coached at Auburn and but played at Georgia.
 
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M

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
Sawnee Cat said:
I agree on Freeze. He is an Ole Miss man and I am old enough to remember the Johnny Vaught v. Bear Bryant days. Some of the best football in SEC history. An Ole Miss man going to coach at Alabama would be like a UK coach or ex coach going to coach at UL. We all that would never happen. Right?
Click to expand...

I recall those days too. Wish the SEC Network would get a copy of those games to replay, I'd love to see them. Ole Miss was a national power during the Vaught years.
 
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G

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,363
37,091
113
bigblueinsanity said:
Reports on Twitter swirling that Saban is interviewing with the Bucs today. And that Chip had contacted Bama.
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Chip was at Bama yesterday, most were saying it was as a consultant, but a little late to bring in a consultant on defending the spread. A few thought he was coming to interview for the OC position, I kid you not.
 
B

bigblueinsanity_rivals250340

Heisman
Apr 13, 2002
44,001
97,149
0
Grumpyolddawg said:
Chip was at Bama yesterday, most were saying it was as a consultant, but a little late to bring in a consultant on defending the spread. A few thought he was coming to interview for the OC position, I kid you not.
Click to expand...

Ya thats definitely not it. Id say they are hedging their bets. Smart move if youre Bama.
 
S

Saguaro Cat

All-American
Apr 27, 2008
15,750
6,398
113
Dabo is numbers one and two.

But I'm surprised more people aren't guessing dan Mullen.the guy has nine and teen win seasons at Mississippi state.

Alabama might be a big enough school to pull Gary Patterson out of tcu. But that might smell of Dennis Franchione for them.
 
K

KyCatFan_rivals45723

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,804
31,517
0
Hasn't Clemson been a disappointment most years under him? Don't they always recruit well, start off ranked high, and end up losing games they shouldn't? At least before this year. Am I remembering correctly?
 
B

bradscats

All-Conference
Mar 28, 2007
4,154
1,617
0
Don't believe Saban is leaving for the NFL at his age but Alabama will get a top coach if he does.
 
B

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
21,619
0
KyCatFan said:
Hasn't Clemson been a disappointment most years under him? Don't they always recruit well, start off ranked high, and end up losing games they shouldn't? At least before this year. Am I remembering correctly?
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They have not been a disappointment. Over the past 5 seasons, they are 10-4, 11-2, 11-2, 10-3, 14-0. Prior to Dabo, the last time they won 10 games was 1990. They went over 20 years without 10 wins and now have gone 5 in a row with at least 10 wins. If you look at those 5 years, here is where they were ranked preseason and where they finished:

2011: Preseason - NR Postseason - 22
2012: Preseason - 14 Postseason - 9
2013: Preseason - 8 Postseason - 7
2014: Preseason - 16 Postseason - 15
2015: Preseason - 12 Postseason - 1/2
 
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K

KyCatFan_rivals45723

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,804
31,517
0
Maybe I was just remembering how it was before he got there. I just know there was always talk in the past about them underachieving. I don't really watch any ACC games unless we are playing a team from there so I am not to up to date on them.
 
G

Goingfor13

Freshman
Apr 8, 2003
86
65
0
Dabo is the obvious answer

Some other names the fanbase would be excited about would be David Shaw and Mark Dantonio.
 
rick64

rick64

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
23,249
30,947
113
Dabo Swinney would be top choice I think. Isn't he a Bama alum plus former asst coach there?
 
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