What do Alabama fans think of the upcoming Auburn football coach search? And is their faith in Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban so great that they don’t care? We asked, they answered. On the mailbag…
It doesn’t matter who anyone hires as long as Saban is in Tuscaloosa. What has become painfully clear is that Alabama must maintain some continuity in the coaching staff. Coach Cadillac was entertaining but I think you have to be careful what you want for a permanent position. – Mike from Bay Minette
mike: I’m not sure if continuity is achievable when it comes to the UA coaching staff. Winning bars are raided every winter. Losing staff, not so much. There have been some long tenures — Kirby Smart for nine years, strength coach Scott Cochran for 13, and both departures were setbacks for Alabama — but they’re outliers. Salary increases are easy, but it’s the promotions to a coordinator or head coach elsewhere that generate the constant revenue.
SABAN’S 15:The Tuscaloosa News special book chronicling Nick Saban’s first 15 years as a coach makes a great Christmas present!
GO BOWLING:What are the most likely Alabama Football Bowl goals ahead of the Iron Bowl?
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is the most important signing in Auburn’s football history. With Bama missing a beat this year and NIL recently introduced, it’s a great opportunity for Auburn to make a big leap forward. So, yeah, I think it’s very important who they hire because although Saban is still Saban, this year there’s no dispute, it’s a disappointment and there seem to be some issues that the mentality of the teams at the repeat earlier Saban era. Now hire a big employee who is good at recruiting and you could build a really strong trajectory. – Daniel from Huntsville.
Daniel: You’re onto something with NIL. It’s the new currency for coaching searches. Bryan Harsin’s experience at AU will make coaches very wary of going there, but the best way for Auburn to combat that perception is to have candidates believe in his NIL war chest.
If Alabama has a coach who can truly run the program (Saban, Stallings and Perkins), Bama has won two-thirds of the Iron Bowls since Coach Bryant retired. When Bama had coaches who were unable to run a program like Alabama (Curry, DuBose, Franchione and Shula), Auburn has won two-thirds of Iron Bowls with those coaches at the helm. So as long as Alabama has the right coach to lead the program, Bama will be fine and continue to get the best out of Auburn over the long haul. – Barry from Vestavia
barry: Just for fun, let’s check your math! Saban, Stallings and Perkins’ Iron Bowl record: 17-9 (.653). You’re almost dead. Auburn’s record against Curry, DuBose, Franchione and Shula combined? 10-3 (0.769). No matter what colors you wear, some iron bowls are easier to forget than others. Nevertheless point taken!
Auburn’s best bet would be to throw everything they have at Lane Kiffin. Give him anything he wants. This attitude would/should scare Bama fans. -Monte from Brooklyn, NY
Monte: Count me surprised if Auburn pulls this off.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter who Auburn hires. Lane Kiffin would be the only one that raises my eyebrow, but we just hit him on the street when we were at our most vulnerable ever. Hugh Freeze is an intriguing name, but I don’t care if they hire Lane, Deion, Cadillac, or Freeze. You will be fired in two years and paid for the next 10 years. – Travis from San Bruno, CA.
travis: The Malzahn and Harsin acquisitions hooked Auburn for $36 million. Two years from now, if they buy someone to start over, they should call it Rains, not Plains.
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