Saban is partly to blame for this mess because the system he built in Tuscaloosa was basically pay for play before this mess started. They simply did it in creative ways and the SEC and NCAA turned a blind eye.

Now, he had to actually work even more because all his cheating/skirting the rules before was open to everyone and he could no longer dominate.

That is why people that laud him as the greatest ever ignore that he was basically the new era version of Bear Bryant. They simply stockpiled the top players not to make them a great team but keep their opponents from getting talent. That's not great coaching and why Saban was mediocre in the NFL. He didn't have the massive talent advantage and coaching was actually important.

That isn't to say that Saban wasn't a godo X's and O's coach. He's a great one, but not as great as some like to make him out to be.

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Posted by iBack8569

Member since Dec 2021

1197 posts

Posted on 2/2/24 at 8:13 am to Geauxgurt

quote:
That's not great coaching and why Saban was mediocre in the NFL.

Not even close to the reason Saban failed in the NFL. Coaches like Saban like total control over their players. That authoritarian approach works with high school and college kids because if they don't fall in line they don't play. If they quit, no problem you have 5 more guys that are just as good if not better.

In the NFL you can't do that. For one, you're dealing with grown arse millionaires that aren't looking for opportunities to play. The bulk of the roster has more leverage than coaches. The only ones responding to that type of leadership are the fringe guys struggling to make the roster. Two, you're a college coach transitioning to the pros...there's a level of "prove it" from the veteran players as well. You don't get respect until you earn it. Belichick didn't get to be a total dick until he won a few Super Bowls. Saban couldn't adapt, so he left for Alabama.

Him retiring could be a combination of things(old age, nothing left, etc.), but he's probably facing a similar dilemma with control. Today's players are not only making money legally, but they can also leave at a drop of a hat without penalty. At least in the NFL there is some sort of leash preventing that, but college has turned into a free for all.

There needs to be a cap on NIL, plus the transfer rules need to go back to what they were with the mandatory 1 year penalty for transferring. Otherwise the best FBS college coaches will continue leaving.

This post was edited on 2/2/24 at 8:14 am

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