When the question of succession management is put before even the more savvy bammer fans I know, they curiously stumble and need to ‘phone a friend’. It’s a fascinating failure of planning and sustaining success that arises in part from Saban’s now uncertain tenure as the best head coaches land at permanent homes. And what Tahd fan or booster is gonna press the GOAT, despite the last two failed seasons and not cashing in on Bryce Young.
If you scan the short list of college football head coaches today, past about 5-6 guys you are unable to use the phrase “can’t miss”.
And then, in terms of realistic “gettable” hires for any top 10 or so program, the list shrinks further.
Lincoln Riley, why would he leave USC now with the sweet Big Ten gig? He won’t.
Kirby is locked in place at his Alma mater, which has zero impediments to winning big.
Dabo may have to think about bolting the ACC in this new superconference structure, but we’ll see this year if he’s still got the chops. I’m doubtful on that score, and not sure he’s high up bammer’s short list.
Kiffin? Hardly a failsafe hire anywhere as a head coach beyond being gifted at offensive design and play calling. Unstable persona.
Brian Kelly? He’s all set at LSU, and positioning to win bigly. If Lester and Ogre can do it, Kelly sure as hell can.
Sarkisian? Why would he leave Texas now that they’re in the SEC big time? And see my take on Kiffin above; same with Sark.
I think Kyle Whittingham’s body of work at Utah gets him on the top target short list. But it’s debatable how quickly he’d adapt and conquer in the deep South. And now we’ll get to see what he can do in the Big12 as the Utes made that move.
So add any head coach you like to this list, but now you’re unable to make a “can’t miss” hire for Saban’s successor.
Lance Leipold at Kansas? Guy is impressive, and would worry me at bammer, but a risk. Dan Lanning at Oregon? Checks some boxes and Saban could push for such a protege’ hire. But far from risk free.
Which all winds its long, rambling TL/DR path here to my original question.
If Hugh Freeze’s recruiting trajectory portends as we hope the product we see on the field inside 2-3 years, it’s not impossible that bammer power brokers (and fans) will experience a quiet, ne’er to be spoken to Li’l BrAUther lamentation:
That had the stars aligned better, the ideal successor to Saban would have been Hugh Freeze.
Yet, from sheer gratitude at AU resurrecting him to the big stage, not to mention AU paying / matching anyone if the AU championships come, Freeze is “ungettable” now by any other program IMHO.
And such a succession scenario would have certainly snuck up on the enemy, like a frog placed in cold water and unwilling to jump before the water warms to boiling.
E5
If you scan the short list of college football head coaches today, past about 5-6 guys you are unable to use the phrase “can’t miss”.
And then, in terms of realistic “gettable” hires for any top 10 or so program, the list shrinks further.
Lincoln Riley, why would he leave USC now with the sweet Big Ten gig? He won’t.
Kirby is locked in place at his Alma mater, which has zero impediments to winning big.
Dabo may have to think about bolting the ACC in this new superconference structure, but we’ll see this year if he’s still got the chops. I’m doubtful on that score, and not sure he’s high up bammer’s short list.
Kiffin? Hardly a failsafe hire anywhere as a head coach beyond being gifted at offensive design and play calling. Unstable persona.
Brian Kelly? He’s all set at LSU, and positioning to win bigly. If Lester and Ogre can do it, Kelly sure as hell can.
Sarkisian? Why would he leave Texas now that they’re in the SEC big time? And see my take on Kiffin above; same with Sark.
I think Kyle Whittingham’s body of work at Utah gets him on the top target short list. But it’s debatable how quickly he’d adapt and conquer in the deep South. And now we’ll get to see what he can do in the Big12 as the Utes made that move.
So add any head coach you like to this list, but now you’re unable to make a “can’t miss” hire for Saban’s successor.
Lance Leipold at Kansas? Guy is impressive, and would worry me at bammer, but a risk. Dan Lanning at Oregon? Checks some boxes and Saban could push for such a protege’ hire. But far from risk free.
Which all winds its long, rambling TL/DR path here to my original question.
If Hugh Freeze’s recruiting trajectory portends as we hope the product we see on the field inside 2-3 years, it’s not impossible that bammer power brokers (and fans) will experience a quiet, ne’er to be spoken to Li’l BrAUther lamentation:
That had the stars aligned better, the ideal successor to Saban would have been Hugh Freeze.
Yet, from sheer gratitude at AU resurrecting him to the big stage, not to mention AU paying / matching anyone if the AU championships come, Freeze is “ungettable” now by any other program IMHO.
And such a succession scenario would have certainly snuck up on the enemy, like a frog placed in cold water and unwilling to jump before the water warms to boiling.
E5
