Report: Tide Offers Coaching Job to Nick Saban

[Wildcat Larry]

According to a published report, the University of Alabama may be close to hiring a new head football coach.The Miami Herald is reporting Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban is considering a huge offer from the Tide -- $40 million to $50 millionto be exact, including endorsements.

That would make Saban the highest-paid college coach in the nation. The length of the proposed contract is unclear tonight. Some speculate it would last for eight years.

IfSaban takes the job, hewould replace former Tide coach Mike Shula, who was fired last month.

But that 'if' is a big one.In recent weeks, Saban continually denied any interest in the job. He alsoannouncedduring a news conferenceSundayhe had no plans to leave Miami.

WSFA TV (http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5877016)

[johnkyblue]

I hope he takes that job, runs them further into the ground, takes the money, moves here and buys a horse farm to retire on.

[jwade]

My understanding is that thus far, Saban has had no direct communications with Bama. It's all been through his agent. If Bama indeed offers $40M - $50M and he turns it down without even talking to the school, it will be a major smackdown for the Tide. I hate to see that happen to one of the old, traditional powerhouses. Bama is my second favorite SEC football school.


Jim

[Rockober]

johnkyblue wrote: I hope he takes that job, runs them further into the ground, takes the money, moves here and buys a horse farm to retire on.


Are you saying Saban isn't a good coach? He is a great coach and if he takes the job, Alabama will be a winner and will get back to being a contender instead ofa pretender.

[delkfor3]

Wildcat Larry wrote:

But that 'if' is a big one.In recent weeks, Saban continually denied any interest in the job. He alsoannouncedduring a news conferenceSundayhe had no plans to leave Miami.

WSFA TV (http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5877016)

Which means he'll be at Bama soon to beintroduced as the newBama coach.:lol:It happens all time in college sports.:shrug:

[ukfaninva]

jwade wrote: My understanding is that thus far, Saban has had no direct communications with Bama. It's all been through his agent. If Bama indeed offers $40M - $50M and he turns it down without even talking to the school, it will be a major smackdown for the Tide. I hate to see that happen to one of the old, traditional powerhouses. Bama is my second favorite SEC football school.


Jim

I think I heard today that he was meeting with them today.

[boomdaddy]

I can't beleive Bamawouldofferthat much money. I do think Saban is a great coach, but is he worth a 50 mil contract?

By the way, that's more than Pitino got paid to lose at Boston.

[Wildcat Larry]

Does this sort of mirror the Pitino to the pros, doesn't make it, then returns to college scenario? Can Saban re-capture his LSU success if he returns to college at Alabama.

It's certainly not a UK-UL type of thing, but Bama and LSU are both in the West Division of the SEC and neither likes each other very much.

I'm guessing that Saban would be much more successful at Bama than Pitino has been at UL.

[Wildcat Larry]

Here's the Saban safety net list from the Montgomery Advertiser:

Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe, Navy’s Paul Johnson, Louisville’s Bobby Petrino, Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Bucs? All good coaches, but none have Saban’s impressive list of college credentials.

[johnkyblue]

Rockober: No, he isn't a bad coach. I just hope he isn't very motivated.

[The Old School JPS]

Wildcat Larry wrote: Does this sort of mirror the Pitino to the pros, doesn't make it, then returns to college scenario? Can Saban re-capture his LSU success if he returns to college at Alabama.

I'm guessing that Saban would be much more successful at Bama than Pitino has been at UL.


Pitino certainly lost a step or three while away from the college game. Judging from his team's off field troubles and recent recruiting I think Spurrier did too, althoughhe has weathered it better than Pitinodid/has. Saban hasn't been gone as long but I do think there would be a bit of an adjustment for him as well.

When was the last time an NFL coach left a pro job by choice to take a college job?

[Coldstream]

johnkyblue wrote: Rockober: No, he isn't a bad coach. I just hope he isn't very motivated.

At Alabama, you will be motivated or their fans will be after you. Think UK basketball fans times 10.

A brick went thru Curry's office window for losing to Auburn (only loss during season). I'm sure there are hundreds of incidents that can show how bad things can get if the Tide don't win.

[RCS]

Al Groh, UVA. Doesn't happen often though. Generally college can't come close to pro pay scales. Alabama apparently has some crazy, very rich alumni. It is a crazy amount of money but if I were Saban I wouldn't take it. Alabama already comes with crazy expectations, add a $40+million contract on top and his life would be hell if he did anything but win 10+ games every year and beat AU. He would need Pete Carroll type success and that is unlikely.

Of the list of other candidates I would go after Petrino. He wouldn't be cheap, but he would be hard pressed to stay if he got offered $3 million/year, which he may.

[The Old School JPS]

RCS wrote: Of the list of other candidates I would go after Petrino. He wouldn't be cheap, but he would be hard pressed to stay if he got offered $3 million/year, which he may.



I think the Raiders offered him $3.6 million per year and he turned it down. Life and success will be much easier for Petrino in Louisville than in Tuscaloosa and I think he recognizes that and isn't all that inclined to leave.

Good call on Al Groh; thanks.Can you think of any other coaches who made a voluntary jump from the NFL to college, not dodging an axe? Groh's is an unusual situationas he played at Virginia, had a lot of family living there, and got to have his son who also played there on his coaching staff thereand has another sonin school there. I can't off the top of my headthink of someone else that did that, at least recently. RayPerkins left the Giants to coach Alabama butlike Groh he was going to his alma mater.

[RCS]

He may stay. He would be wise to stay frankly. Alabama is very different than the Raiders job. The Raiders on in disarray and in the NFL most head coaches don't much input on personel. It he thinks he can recruit at Alabama, and there is no reason he can't, he may be tempted to take it. His son is not out of HS I believe, which makes a big difference. On the other hand, he has a NC caliber team next year so he may want to stick around and finish what he started. The Alabama contract would have to be long and large. Of course he already has a 10 year contract at a pretty big number so he may not care. He would have to at least listen if some of the numbers being thrown around are true.

[Caveman Catfan]

I do not believe Bobby Petrino will ever be offered the Bama job. I am not sure that he has been offered any job but the Raiders job since he has been at UL.