Let Bama have him...

OK, it's been almost a week since my beloved Bayou Bengals opened up a big old can of whoop tail on a (once again) over-rated Notre Dame team. The end result, LSU wins the Sugar Bowl 41-14.
At the same time, the big news coming out of Tuscaloosa was that former LSU head coach Nick Saban was leaving his NFL head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins to take the helm at the University of Alabama. Obviously, Tide fans are hoping that Saban can resurrect the once glorious winning tradition at Alabama...but i have my doubts.

Since i have had time to think about it, i decided to give my take on the situation.

First of all, even though Saban has apparently said he would like to retire in Tuscaloosa (although i can't find proof of that other than from a friend who is a Bama fan)...i wouldn't count on it. I give you what we shall call Evidence A: Saban's coaching tenure since becoming an active coach at Kent State, his alma mater.

2005-2006: Head Coach of Miami Dolphins (NFL)
2000-2004: Head Coach of LSU Tigers (NCAA)
1995-1999: Head Coach of Michigan State University (NCAA)
1991-1994: Def. Coordinator for Cleveland Browns (NFL)
1990: Head Coach for University of Toledo (NCAA)
1988-1989: Def. Secondary Coach for Houston Oilers (NFL)
1983-1987: Sec/Def. Coordinator for Michigan State University (NCAA)
1982: Def. Coordinator for US Naval Academy (NCAA)
1980-1981: Def. Assistant for Ohio State University(NCAA)
1978-1979: Def. Assistant for West Virginia University (NCAA)
1977: Def. Assistant for Syracuse University
1975-1976: Def. Assistant for Kent State University

OK, let's do the math on that...12 stops in 20 years, now going to number 13. That is an average tenure of 1.67 years, or a little over 18 months for you Bama ball players who can't count pass 5 because you run out of fingers on your right hand.
What makes you think that this will be the "Miracle" place where Nicky can actually earn some tenure? Not likely.
Also keep in mind he left LSU after repeatedly saying he wasn't looking to go, and for weeks before taking the Bama job he was spouting the same nonsense of "I'm not leaving..." Whatever!

My second point is this, you are going to have a MAJOR battle of control.
Saban is a very controlling coach. It is his way or the highway. He is the sole spokesman for the team, and that is final. When he was at LSU one of the issues the Baton Rouge and Louisiana media had with him was the fact that he never allowed his assistant coaches to have a say. In fact, i have no doubt that Jimbo Fisher, LSU's Offensive Coordinator, would probably be else where by now if people actually knew what his voice sounded like. Saban NEVER allowed him or anyone else under him to speak.
And that control issue will also cause problems with alumni and boosters who feel like they are Omnipotent when it comes to Bama athletics...especially football. We're talking about boosters and alumni that sometimes give more than the Tide athletic department brings in on an annual basis; and they think that their mighty dollar has a voice. And apparently it does seeing how they have run off so many coaches there.
Saban will not allow the "powers that want to be" to stick their nose in Tide football business and they are not going to be happy about that. There will be a clash, and someone is going to have to break...i just have no idea who it will be.

As an LSU fan and someone who really doesn't care for the Tide...i think it will be fun watching this implosion take place over the next couple of years. And seeing that Bama had a losing record this year, i don't expect them to have a recruiting windfall just because Nicky is at the helm.

In short, Bama can have him...