2013 NCAA FOOTBALL THREAD

[vicfurth]

It's not so much a challenge between Bama/Texas but a challenge in whether he can build a program up three times. Both LSU and Alabama were ranked but not near the top when Saban got there and he took both to the top. Texas is in a similar position and whether Saban could take a third school to a championship would be the icing on the cake for him.

It's not an issues of Texas being more difficult than Alabama.

[HedleyLamarr]

I believe Texas has the biggest budget, most money, etc. of all the D-1 football factories. So there's that, I guess.

I've been saying it all season on BAFS and I'll say it here - Nick Saban will be the next coach of the Texas Longhorns. Why? What's he got left to prove at Alabama? If he goes to Texas and has the same type of success he had at 'Bama, can anyone really argue that he's not one of the greatest coaches in college football history? That's why he takes the job.

I don't think Saban leaves for Texas unless they throw $10 million a year his way.

Saban could be considered one of the greatest coaches if he never coached another game. Don't think he needs any more legacy padding by winning at another school.

Just don't get that "Larry Brown" vibe with Saban, especially now that he's over 60. And for someone that relishes control and power, Saban is likely thinking "All Texas will do to me after I win them a lot of games is force me out, just like they're doing to Mack Brown", and that may be enough to keep him at Alabama.

I think Saban's stringing Texas along so he can get a raise at Alabama. He loses bargaining leverage if he announces that he's not going to Texas.

Yeah, I seriously doubt that Nick Saban needs another school to use as leverage just to get a raise. He already knows that Alabama will match whatever Texas offers. This ain't Kevin Sumlin we're talking about here. It's Nick Saban, one of the all-time great coaches. He's well past the point where he needs leverage to get a raise. If he wants more money out of Alabama, all he has to do is ask. The question is whether or not he wants to stay at Alabama - and I don't think he does.

Saban has all the money he'll ever need. It's all about his legacy. That, and a new challenge maybe. For him, all another NC at Alabama does is give him another NC at Alabama. Been there, done that. This isn't a "Larry Brown" thing. Saban won't bounce just to bounce. Texas is the final jewel in the crown for him. Sure, the money will play a role - he'll undoubtedly get the largest contract ever given to a college coach, but the money is just an ego thing at this point.

I'm a little surprised that someone with your knowledge of college football thinks Saban would a.) need leverage and b.) get the "Mack Brown" treatment after a few years. With Saban, the Longhorns are getting this generation's Bear Bryant. Mack Brown didn't show up at Texas with 4 NC rings on his fingers.

He's going to Texas. Count on it.

If he leaves Alabama, I think it would be for some extracurriculars going on at Alabama, whether it be some sort of deep-seeded disagreement with the school president, the AD, Alabama's boosters, etc. (Or, he leaves if there's some sort of NCAA punishment heading Alabama's way.)

There's valid arguments for Saban to stay or go. His track record says that he's leaving (and Saban not saying anything one way or the other), but he wasn't 62 and wearing three championship rings for his current employer when he left Michigan State, LSU, and Miami. That's why I think my gut feeling is that he stays at Alabama. I'm not saying there's no chance he goes to Texas, and I frankly haven't gotten into any sort of the soap opera stuff that muddies the water. I just think that he's in a point in his life where he craves more power and stability and comfort than adding to his ego/legacy.

[alxy8s]

It's not so much a challenge between Bama/Texas but a challenge in whether he can build a program up three times. Both LSU and Alabama were ranked but not near the top when Saban got there and he took both to the top. Texas is in a similar position and whether Saban could take a third school to a championship would be the icing on the cake for him.

It's not an issues of Texas being more difficult than Alabama.

Does anyone really doubt whether Saban could take Texas to #1, though? Texas isn't that far from being a title team as it is. It seems like all they're missing is a great coach to take them over the top, so it's not really that much of a building project.

I agree that getting 1 with Texas adds more to his legacy than would #4 at Alabama. However, what would 5, 6, etc. at Alabama do for his legacy? At 7, he surpasses Bear Bryant. That might sound like an unattainably high number, but Saban won 3 of the past 4 under the BCS system. From now on, he has to get Bama to #4, not #2. He's coached Bama to at least #4 in every season but '07 and '10. He's got a shot to be remembered as the best coach of all time. At his age, that's more easily done at Alabama.

[infrared41]

Comfort is well and good, but it provides no challenge. Does Nick Saban strike you as the type of coach who's looking for "comfortable confines?"

This is the only point of your argument that I find questionable – that winning at Texas is more of a challenge than at Alabama.

I'm not saying it's more of a challenge, it's just a new and different challenge.

[FiddySicks]

Comfort is well and good, but it provides no challenge. Does Nick Saban strike you as the type of coach who's looking for "comfortable confines?"

This is the only point of your argument that I find questionable that winning at Texas is more of a challenge than at Alabama.

I'm not saying it's more of a challenge, it's just a new and different challenge.

And I'm not sure getting to #4 at Alabama is really any easier than doing it at Texas anyway. I'd way rather try to get one of the top 4 spots in the country vs the Big XII than vs the SEC.

[rainmaker17]

This Horns fan wants no part of Saban.

[DS729]

Looks like Golson's back...

http://fansided.com/2013/12/13/everett-golson-readmitted-notre-dame/

[Xist2inspire]

Guess I'll chime in on the Saban debate.

I think Texas is a much better option at this point and time.

1. Recruiting

Saban's strength has always been his recruiting skills, and there's no better place to recruit than in the state of Texas. Plus, Saban would move into a conference where he instantly becomes the biggest fish. Currently in the SEC, he has good competition for recruits. Texas A&M is a fresh obstacle for the SEC's Texas pipeline, LSU's always a recruiting threat, Auburn's in the midst of a revival, Mizzou wants to build upon their success, and Georgia & Florida will definitely look to rebound from disappointing seasons. Who'd be a big threat to Saban & Texas' recruiting in the Big 12?

2. Status Quo In The SEC

I dunno if y'all have noticed this, but the SEC's started to turn into a conference that plays games Saban isn't too fond of. You've got lots of teams going for high-powered, multiple-look offenses, the opposite of Saban's traditional, conservative approach. Watching Alabama against (good) teams this season, I noticed how strained they looked, especially on offense, as suddenly they were forced to rely on putting up points rather than ball-control and defense. The SEC is evolving, and I'm not sure Saban wants to evolve with it. I don't know about the status of Big 12 football, but maybe Saban's brand of football would still thrive there.

3. Status Quo At Alabama

It's time for Alabama to retool. McCarron's a senior, so are Norwood and Mosley, dunno about Yeldon, Cooper, Sunseri, and Clinton-Dix. So even if Saban stays at Alabama, he'll be facing the same situation on the field, which is finding new guys to rely on. Going back to the recruiting aspect, I'd think the better situation in that case is Texas.

I had other points, but I forgot 'em while typing.

[Kramerica Industries]

And you have no reason to remember them, either.

[infrared41]

Yeah, Herbstreit has gotten burnt before so until Saban says he's staying, all bets are off.

[crashcarson15]

To chime in on the discussion around Notre Dame from a couple of pages ago...

If a coach came together and won 10 games 8 times in 10 years, won 2 national titles, and got Notre Dame back to truly being relevant and a great, enjoyable team to watch, he'd be a legend around here. And I still maintain there's not too many others schools who will get 95%+ student body attendance at games during a 3-9 season.

[DS729]

To chime in on the discussion around Notre Dame from a couple of pages ago...

If a coach came together and won 10 games 8 times in 10 years, won 2 national titles, and got Notre Dame back to truly being relevant and a great, enjoyable team to watch, he'd be a legend around here. And I still maintain there's not too many others schools who will get 95%+ student body attendance at games during a 3-9 season.

I would say Tech would... but we haven't had a season that bad since Beamer's first year. But if you could get 40,000 people to show up for a spring game I think that would be pretty promising.

EDIT: Saban's extension is legit, University of Alabama just confirmed it.

[CS85]

My alum, Eastern Illinois, got blown out at home tonight in a nationally televised game. Their NFL-bound quarterback looked alright, but the Townsen running back put up 500-something yards and 8 touchdowns or some silly, stupid crap.

[tp49]

As an alumni I'm happy Saban is staying put. Saban brought a stability back to the football program that had been missing since Gene Stallings left. That said, given his track record I'm really surprised he's staying put. Makes me wonder which street they'll name for him as Bryant Drive was named for The Bear.

[Billy B]

My alum, Eastern Illinois, got blown out at home tonight in a nationally televised game. Their NFL-bound quarterback looked alright, but the Townsen running back put up 500-something yards and 8 touchdowns or some silly, stupid crap.

I watched some of that and the Towson running back just went off on their defense. I actually played against Garoppolo in high school and didn't realize how well he progressed until this year. Granted he was only a 2-star recruit I think, but we didn't hear anything special about him in films/practice leading up to that game. And this is the guy that topped Sean Payton and Tony Romo in most of the school records.

[rams80]

2. Status Quo In The SEC

I dunno if y'all have noticed this, but the SEC's started to turn into a conference that plays games Saban isn't too fond of. You've got lots of teams going for high-powered, multiple-look offenses, the opposite of Saban's traditional, conservative approach. Watching Alabama against (good) teams this season, I noticed how strained they looked, especially on offense, as suddenly they were forced to rely on putting up points rather than ball-control and defense. The SEC is evolving, and I'm not sure Saban wants to evolve with it. I don't know about the status of Big 12 football, but maybe Saban's brand of football would still thrive there.

Eggshells armed with hammers, the lot of them. So essentially Saban gets 8 weeks of high tempo ball guaranteed (The flaming wreckage of Kansas is your lone exception).

[CS85]

My alum, Eastern Illinois, got blown out at home tonight in a nationally televised game. Their NFL-bound quarterback looked alright, but the Townsen running back put up 500-something yards and 8 touchdowns or some silly, stupid crap.

I watched some of that and the Towson running back just went off on their defense. I actually played against Garoppolo in high school and didn't realize how well he progressed until this year. Granted he was only a 2-star recruit I think, but we didn't hear anything special about him in films/practice leading up to that game. And this is the guy that topped Sean Payton and Tony Romo in most of the school records.

It was absurd. Ironically it was Charleston's own crappy weather that derailed the EIU offense in the first half. Townsen's running back just wouldn't go down. EIU had no answers. I shall now resume not giving a crap about my alma mater.

[HedleyLamarr]

He's going to Texas. Count on it.

[infrared41]

He's going to Texas. Count on it.

And he will - the next time Alabama plays A&M at A&M.

Win some, lose some. I'm looking at the bright side, by missing the mark on Saban, I just made Kramerica's Christmas at least 17% more enjoyable. Not to mention, you're finally right about something, Hedley. It's a banner day for you.

[infrared41]

My alum, Eastern Illinois, got blown out at home tonight in a nationally televised game. Their NFL-bound quarterback looked alright, but the Townsen running back put up 500-something yards and 8 touchdowns or some silly, stupid crap.

I watched some of that and the Towson running back just went off on their defense. I actually played against Garoppolo in high school and didn't realize how well he progressed until this year. Granted he was only a 2-star recruit I think, but we didn't hear anything special about him in films/practice leading up to that game. And this is the guy that topped Sean Payton and Tony Romo in most of the school records.

It was absurd. Ironically it was Charleston's own crappy weather that derailed the EIU offense in the first half. Townsen's running back just wouldn't go down. EIU had no answers. I shall now resume not giving a crap about my alma mater.

What I got to see of this game was really good. I tuned in when it was (I think) 14-7 EIU and I stayed with it until the score was 35-32...then my DirecTV went out and I missed the rest. But yeah, the Towson RB had himself quite a game. Good stuff these college football playoff games.