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Unpopular opinion re: Bama

17,931 Views | 110 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Dad
Guy on a Buffalo
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4:47a, 1/11/24
AG
They're not that great a program, it's not a destination job, and with Saban leaving they will fall into relative mediocrity for the next decade.

Pre-NIL, Saban could have taken a lot of programs to the success he has brought Bama. He was arguably on his way at LSU before bolting to the NFL. He just so happened to land at a school in Bama who had historically been great a few generations before he got there, but if he had ended up at Georgia or Tennessee or Texas or even here he could have replicated the success he's had for the past 16 years.

Now Bama has to compete with everyone else having the same advantages and opportunities that they do, and without their legendary coach. Meanwhile, Smart has Georgia on their way to becoming the next dynasty and they've already shown they can adapt to the new landscape in college football.

I think Bama's run at the top is over, and the rise of the next era of college greatness will be achieved by schools who have not traditionally been the blue bloods and perennial favorites.

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Bobaloo
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5:22a, 1/11/24
If Bama isn't a great program, what are we?
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Double Diamond
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5:48a, 1/11/24
Alabama is very much a great program. Three different coaches have won titles there.
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WaldoWings
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5:51a, 1/11/24
eh…. it is the premiere program besides maybe OSU.
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Moral High Horse
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5:58a, 1/11/24
Right…it's the UTEP of Alabama
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Ag8086
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6:26a, 1/11/24
AG
17 national championships. I think they are premier. No other programs with more than 4 or 5.
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txaggie79
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6:38a, 1/11/24
AG
Alabama has historically had a great program. One of the winningest teams ever. Anyone saying otherwise is being unrealistic. It's no doubt a "destination job" for college coaches. (Coach Fran being the exception, haha)
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TxAg82
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6:43a, 1/11/24
AG
Sometimes people try too hard to be edgy. This is one of those times. 16 national championships = greatness. Simple as that.

I can see them falling back to the pack a bit. Saban was also greatness.
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Flashdiaz
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6:43a, 1/11/24
AG
thread should be renamed 'unfounded opinion'
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BBRex
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6:48a, 1/11/24
AG
While there might be an argument that Alabama might struggle more with NIL in the picture, saying the program isn't great is a very bad take.
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lagoag
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In reply to txaggie79 • 6:50a, 1/11/24
You might want to add Shula and Price to your list. I don't agree with OP but I do think they will start to drop off. It might not be next year or even the next but it won't be the same. I don't care who they get it won't be like what Saban did.
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Bison
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6:53a, 1/11/24
AG
Sa(t)an also was successful at Michigan State prior to coming to LSU. But would he have built MSU up to a BCS natty contender had he stayed?

It comes down to facilities and alum networks willing to finance things. I don't think anyone would say MSU had the facilities to compete with UM or Ohio State back then. LSU and Bama did, as did many big-name programs.
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TexAggie1999
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In reply to Guy on a Buffalo • 6:57a, 1/11/24
Guy on a Buffalo said:
They're not that great a program, it's not a destination job, and with Saban leaving they will fall into relative mediocrity for the next decade.

Pre-NIL, Saban could have taken a lot of programs to the success he has brought Bama. He was arguably on his way at LSU before bolting to the NFL. He just so happened to land at a school in Bama who had historically been great a few generations before he got there, but if he had ended up at Georgia or Tennessee or Texas or even here he could have replicated the success he's had for the past 16 years.

Now Bama has to compete with everyone else having the same advantages and opportunities that they do, and without their legendary coach. Meanwhile, Smart has Georgia on their way to becoming the next dynasty and they've already shown they can adapt to the new landscape in college football.

I think Bama's run at the top is over, and the rise of the next era of college greatness will be achieved by schools who have not traditionally been the blue bloods and perennial favorites.


While I view Saban as an amazing coach and think his successor won't have the same level of success, saying Alabama is not a destination job is ridiculous.

I think you will see that when they get a class of coach above what we are capable of without giving a 10 year fully guaranteed contract. And we are pretty a good job.
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Surly Thor
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In reply to TxAg82 • 6:58a, 1/11/24
AG
Can't something be said that 12 of those National champions came from two legendary coaches: Bryant and Saban.

The others came pre World War II. Not saying Alabama will be bottom feeders but what are chances of landing another legendary coach and dominating?
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197361936
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In reply to Bobaloo • 7:09a, 1/11/24
Bobaloo said:
If Bama isn't a great program, what are we?


What is everyone else.**
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HarryRocket
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7:14a, 1/11/24
OP didn't say bama wasn't a great program, he said it wasn't THAT great of a program. They are great but people tend to overstate it

I tend to agree. They are not immune to ****ty hires and dismal years.
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Sq 17
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7:21a, 1/11/24
Bama has always been one of the 10 best jobs in college football when Bama has the right coach it is one of the 5 best jobs in America. This can be said for numerous programs and these top programs keep firing coaches until eventually they find a guy that can take them to top 5 status

Before NIL, the portal , and early departure for the NFL there was huge talent disparity between the 5 th best program in college Football and the 15 th best program in America.

The 5 best programs because they were winning and had the correct coach could stockpile so much talent that it was almost a lock one of those 5 teams was going to win it all before the season even started.

Going forward nobody is going to be able to stockpile talent and the list of teams that can win it all every year will get longer because talent it is more widely distributed
player evaluation and coaching will be more important.

Saban is a great coach and from 2014-2019 he had a significant talent advantage in all but one or two games a year. Early departures , portal , NIL and 6th year seniors reduce the talent advantage and Saban decided to quit with his legacy in tact.
Looking back Osborne did the same thing at Nebraska he saw that the things that gave Nebraska a competitive edge were going away and he retired
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soleta27
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7:40a, 1/11/24
You are right about one thing. This is a very unpopular opinion
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Double Diamond
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7:42a, 1/11/24
Saban is also 72. Let's not act like Saban is walking away early.
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Logos Stick
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In reply to Guy on a Buffalo • 7:43a, 1/11/24
Bama got lucky and hired a dude named Bear Bryant.

That's it.
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HDeathstar
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7:44a, 1/11/24
Great program. Question is can they continue in NIL world. That is what they will be asking themselves (All programs are looking at their checkbook and seeing how good they can be in NIL world). Big money over many years may be tough for them.
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Quail
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7:46a, 1/11/24
Wow, would like the list of all the programs that are THAT great. Please let us know. Not sure the difference between not a Great program and not THAT great of a program.
Not sure anyone will ever top what Saban has done at Alabama and my hat is off to the man.
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usmcbrooks
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7:54a, 1/11/24
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Marooned1994
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In reply to Guy on a Buffalo • 8:03a, 1/11/24
Guy on a Buffalo said:
They're not that great a program, it's not a destination job, and with Saban leaving they will fall into relative mediocrity for the next decade.

Pre-NIL, Saban could have taken a lot of programs to the success he has brought Bama. He was arguably on his way at LSU before bolting to the NFL. He just so happened to land at a school in Bama who had historically been great a few generations before he got there, but if he had ended up at Georgia or Tennessee or Texas or even here he could have replicated the success he's had for the past 16 years.

Now Bama has to compete with everyone else having the same advantages and opportunities that they do, and without their legendary coach. Meanwhile, Smart has Georgia on their way to becoming the next dynasty and they've already shown they can adapt to the new landscape in college football.

I think Bama's run at the top is over, and the rise of the next era of college greatness will be achieved by schools who have not traditionally been the blue bloods and perennial favorites.
Congrats! You just made an appearance on Message Boards Geniuses.
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Bill Superman
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8:03a, 1/11/24
AG
They're only premier because of what Saban was able to do there. If Elko is able to win here we can join the premier club too.
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agnatgas
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8:08a, 1/11/24
AG
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fulshearAg96
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In reply to Bill Superman • 8:17a, 1/11/24
AG
Bill Superman said:
They're only premier because of what Saban was able to do there. If Elko is able to win here we can join the premier club too.
LOL
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OrygunAg
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8:27a, 1/11/24
AG
Delusional view of our program. We aren't gonna be a dynasty like bama, ever. I doubt we even rise to 'blue blood' status. Few good runs and maybe we finally capture a championship at some point.
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fightintxaggie10
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8:28a, 1/11/24
AG
They're the greatest program. Let's just start this millennium, the greatest, no question.
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powderlyag
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In reply to Surly Thor • 8:36a, 1/11/24
AG
Coach Stallings says hey..
powderlyag
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HTownAg
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In reply to Bill Superman • 8:38a, 1/11/24
AG
Bill Superman said:
They're only premier because of what Saban was able to do there. If Elko is able to win here we can join the premier club too.
Let's look at the numbers....

If Elko can have 16 straight 10-win seasons and.........

109 weeks ranked No. 1 in AP poll
49 First Round NFL Draft Picks
Win a total of 7 National Titles (I'll take 6 here like Saban did at Bama)
Win a National Title in 3 Different Decades
Compile a 201-29 record in the next 17 seasons

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NyAggie
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In reply to Sq 17 • 8:44a, 1/11/24
AG
Sq 17 said:
Bama has always been one of the 10 best jobs in college football when Bama has the right coach it is one of the 5 best jobs in America. This can be said for numerous programs and these top programs keep firing coaches until eventually they find a guy that can take them to top 5 status

Before NIL, the portal , and early departure for the NFL there was huge talent disparity between the 5 th best program in college Football and the 15 th best program in America.

The 5 best programs because they were winning and had the correct coach could stockpile so much talent that it was almost a lock one of those 5 teams was going to win it all before the season even started.

Going forward nobody is going to be able to stockpile talent and the list of teams that can win it all every year will get longer because talent it is more widely distributed
player evaluation and coaching will be more important.

Saban is a great coach and from 2014-2019 he had a significant talent advantage in all but one or two games a year. Early departures , portal , NIL and 6th year seniors reduce the talent advantage and Saban decided to quit with his legacy in tact.
Looking back Osborne did the same thing at Nebraska he saw that the things that gave Nebraska a competitive edge were going away and he retired
this is a much better take than the OP's

I also believe that the list of team that will win a title is going to grow because of NIL and the portal - more teams are going to rise up and the playing field will level some, which I think it has already started doing.

that's why saban's last natty was 2020 and he hasn't won it since then and also why you saw washington and michigan in the finals.





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A. G. Pennypacker
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8:45a, 1/11/24
AG
The program no doubt has been great. Maybe the greatest based on number of NC's (17) and legendary coaches.

Will it continue to remain great is yet to be seen. Times change. Nick Saban's don't grow on trees.

Between 1869 and 1927 Harvard, Princeton and Yale racked up 8, 15 and 18 NC's.

Between 1934 and 1960, Minnesota had 8 NC's.

A wealthy American industrialist looking to open a silver mine in the mountains of Peru.
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Bring n WOOD
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9:06a, 1/11/24
AG
OP:

A very naive opinion Sir….and utterly incorrect
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one safe place
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In reply to Guy on a Buffalo • 9:10a, 1/11/24
Guy on a Buffalo said:
They're not that great a program, it's not a destination job, and with Saban leaving they will fall into relative mediocrity for the next decade.

They are a great program, it is a destination job, and they will not fall into mediocrity for the next decade. Three strikes and you're out.

They will not be as great a team as they have been, in part due to Saban leaving, and in part due to NIL and the portal closing the gap between them and several other teams.
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