Nick Saban retires

This is a great point. When DeBoer signed on at UDub, the Big Ten wasn't part of the discussion.
I also wonder if he'd have taken the Bama job absent playoff expansion, which might be the thing that saves him.
He still has to watch his back. Mike Price didn't make it to his first game after leaving Washington State to take the Bama gig. Bryan Harsin was gone from Auburn after less than two seasons after arriving from Boise State.

The Price saga still amazes me. Particularly this:

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in July that Alabama law did not protect Sports Illustrated from having to identify a confidential source whose identity was sought by Price's attorney, Steven Heninger. The court said the law specifically protected newspapers and broadcast news reports, but not magazines.

Price settles $20M defamation suit over SI article

 

I think what's amazing is how quickly things are moving from Saban to DeBoer. Almost like it was planned.

 

The thing about DeBoer is he's now working for an AD who didn't hire him, its always preferable to work for someone personally invested in your success. But the adage about not being the guy who follows the guy..
Bama had some decent coaches after Bear who did ok, except for the fact that they weren't Bear. Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, and Gene Stallings won a title and never felt the love.

The speed is likely due to the 30-day portal opening as soon as a coach announces he's leaving. You really can't afford to dilly-dally when you lose a coach. Which sucks. I remember back in the day with an AD would announce a committee that would interview candidates, with people from the academic side, maybe a couple of students and boosters. Now its all done by one of those "search firms" which makes coach hirings seem more like the dead drops you see in spy movies.

 

Perhaps with the help of a third party. Like an agent, for example?

 

If Byrne fucks this hire up he's toast. I'd say he's pretty personally invested.

 

That's what I meant. The AD who hired DeBoer at UW is now at USC. By saying "now" - I meant with the Huskies.

 

The electronic sign on the Taco Casa cactus was already welcoming DeBoer after we left the gymnastics meet tonight.

 

I envision Joe Morrison, wearing all black and smoking on the sidelines, telling Joe Milton to run Joe Morris off tackle.

 

This is why the all the big football factories suck. It ain't life or death, Jim Bob.
A 10-2 season anywhere is a damn good season. And 9-3 ain't much cause for bitching, either.

And that's why I don't follow my alma mater much anymore. Other sports, too.
This stuff is there for our entertainment. Rabid fan bases (and constant media overkill) ruin it for the rest of us.

I'll probably go watch D-II football and Double-A baseball from here on out ...

 

I figured it would be Norvell, but he flipped it into a payday where he is.

 

We’re talking about football players, not 20-year-old coeds.

 

I'm thinking a lot of parts were in motion before Saban made his announcement.