What's so hard about replacing the greatest coach ever?
The B'ham News has an interview with Bama's headhunter. The Mobile Press-Register has an article about people who would make interesting candidates. While the Tuscaloosa News talks about the Bama search turning costly financially.
Most interesting is a separate article in the Birmingham News about the attractiveness of the job. In the interview, they talk about the Nick Saban rumors.
I've said from the jump that it's a pipe dream to pursue Saban. The $57 million contract offer has already been strongly refuted as bogus. And, frankly that's the type of offer that it would take to land Saban given that he makes $4 million/year with the Dolphins. $57 million is offer that Bama can't and wouldn't make. Here's what a former LSU assistant and current NFL Scout had to say about Saban being a part of the search:
"Coaches are highly structured people. They want to know who's their boss, exactly who's calling the shots. And that's been a problem at Alabama for a while now."Exactly. Saban ain't coming.
For that reason, Landry said he believes Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban would not take the Alabama job even if Saban wanted to leave the NFL. Landry and Saban are acquaintances.
"When Nick came to LSU, he interviewed LSU as much as they interviewed him," Landry said. "The thing that made it a really good job is the chancellor took over and he was Nick's only boss. He went straight to the chancellor every time."
Landry said discussion about Saban coming to Alabama is "absurd" and being orchestrated by his agent, Jimmy Sexton.
"Jimmy privately knows Nick is not interested," Landry said. "If other people speculate there's interest in Nick, it keeps Jimmy in the loop for the possibility of other clients, including possibly Houston Nutt. Those things are done all the time."
Added Landry: "I don't think the people doing the search truly think that Nick Saban is still attainable. I think that's coming from other people. But who's doing the search? Mal Moore may be doing all he can do, but it's worthless if he's got a bullet-less gun."
If I'm Bama, I have no idea who I'd call at this point. Mike Leach looks to be the most interesting guy that hasn't already turned them down. You'll laugh, but Larry Coker is a better candidate than most of the guys who's names are being thrown around.
BTW -- How in the hell did they end up without Butch Davis? What a shank!
PWD
