Saban headed to Alabama

[dmek25]

why would he leave? the money was about the same. now, he is going to have a hellava time getting back to the nfl, if thats what he wants. it just seems that he is all about the money

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by dmek25

why would he leave? the money was about the same. now, he is going to have a hellava time getting back to the nfl, if thats what he wants. it just seems that he is all about the money

From what I've heard he didn't like living in Miami, he and his wife prefer a place like Alabama. He also just preferred the college environment.

He's the latest successful college coach unable to succeed in the NFL so I guess the bigger question is has he shut the door for other college coaches who may want a chance in the NFL? Will NFL owners continue to consider college coaches-guys like Petrino, Ferentz, Fridge?

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

He's the latest successful college coach unable to succeed in the NFL so I guess the bigger question is has he shut the door for other college coaches who may want a chance in the NFL? Will NFL owners continue to consider college coaches-guys like Petrino, Ferentz, Fridge?

Yeah, Saban was to be the perfect choice for going from college to pro b/c of his background (unlike Spurrier, Saban had coached at the NFL level). If I am an owner, my thinking is "If Saban can't cut it, then there isn't a college coach out there that can."

I think that every 10-15 years, there is a push to hire successful college coaches and then, after 2 or three failed experiments, owners shy away from them for awhile. Just as college football teams/players are a significant step down from the pros (regardless of what TMC's "Friend" thinks), the challenges of NFL head coaching are far more intense and the job security much less secure than college coaching.

As an aside, many pundits have noted that college football HAS become more complex as many teams have adopted more complex passing games. IMO, all this has done is raise the bar at the professional level. The most complex college systems are the baseline for the pro game and the jumping off point for college players and coaches. Better and now (football) smarter college players are filtered through a pro system that can start at a more advanced level. In essence, a better college game has simply meant that a better, faster, more complex pro game has evolved. (Run that one past "Friend" Malcolm).

I imagine that we have another college coach or two but that, when they fail, we won't see any more direct hires from college for another 10-15 years (I'll be back to gloat in 2017).