Alabama is known for winning championships. There are two men responsible for a majority of the national titles won by the Crimson Tide: the late Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, and Nick Saban.
Since becoming the Alabama head coach, Saban has won nine SEC West titles, seven SEC Championships and five National Championships.
It’s hard to deny Nick Saban is the greatest football coach of modern times, and a strong case for ‘greatest of all time’ status.
However, all good things must come to an end. No, Alabama fans, don’t worry, I’m not saying the dynasty is coming to an end; but at some point the Crimson Tide will need to look to the future.
At 69, Nick Saban is still going strong. He is still the same coach on the sidelines that will let a player or fellow coach hear it if he’s not happy.
There’s no specific age that Saban sees himself retiring. When asked about his inevitable retirement during media availability prior to the SEC Championship, he mentioned wanting to coach for as long as he can.
“If I thought that my presence here was not something that was a positive for the University of Alabama or with the program, with the players, then I’d say it would be time not to do it anymore,” said Saban.
For years, people have been trying to predict who the replacement would be to one of the most powerful jobs in all of American sports.
Dabo Swinney? A former assistant? Every candidate on the hypothetical list got shot down, due to not being nearly as perfect as Nick Lou Saban.
Well, without any ounce of knowledge beind knowing when Saban’s time will end in Tuscaloosa, moves toward securing the next coach of the Crimson Tide may have been made.
After a few days of consistent reporting on Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s interview for the Auburn head coaching job, he is no longer seen as a candidate, after declining the interview opportunity.
Alabama certainly knows Sarkisian’s value, and is willing to pay him to keep him in Tuscaloosa. He’s currently tied with Auburn’s defensive coordinator Kevin Steele as the highest paid assistant coach in college football.
Sarkisian is no stranger to being a head coach on some of college football’s biggest stages. After making some stops in Washington and USC, Sark found his way as an NFL offensive coordinator, and then returned to college football with his current position as the offensive coordinator to one of the most lethal offenses in the nation.
Actually, Sarkisian even got a taste of what it’s like to be at the helm of the Alabama program during one of the most important weeks of the season. When Saban tested positive for COVID-19, and could not coach against Auburn in the 2020 Iron Bowl, Sarkisian stepped up to act as interim coach.
Alabama won the Iron Bowl in a blowout fashion with a final score of 42-13.
There’s no known reason as to why Sarkisian turned down the opportunity to be considered for the Auburn coaching job. It would be his first time as the head coach of a program since 2015 at USC.
Did Alabama offer him a new, bigger and potentially longer contract? Is he just too into the in-state rivalry and couldn’t bring himself to coach a rival school?
This is all speculation, but it’s difficult to believe he turned it down because he felt like it. There’s no way to tell what’s going on behind closed doors in the Alabama program, but signs point to something brewing.