In the end, I would like to see CKD become another log term legendary coach here..Another legacy type at Bama..We will just have to wait and see..
There are plenty of reasons to believe he will. There isn't anything happening right now that we didn't talk about in detail; both the good and the bad. I've yet to see a reason he will not.
All a Bama fan can ask for is a team that competes for SEC titles which in turn means they are competing for national titles. At least, that's all I've ever "asked."
What I find interesting, as a bit of a side story, to all of this angst...
Let's look back at the programs that have made the playoffs since its inception and how many of those programs have returned after a coaching change.
Florida State made it in the first year and haven't returned. Michigan State and LSU are also in this mix.
But, we have three outliers as well.
OU was in under Riley, back under Venables.
Notre Dame was in under Kelly. They were back last year under Freeman in his third season at the helm.
And now Bama is back under DeBoer in his second season.
There you go using logic. A few fans (some on this board) were saying not only will we not lose a beat post CNS but we will be even better immediatley. Completely illogical thinking.
Logic? Where was the beat missed thus far?
This conversation is bordering on an exercise in futility because the game itself, the conference as a whole and its competitiveness, the landscape of the entire world of collegiate football ... none of it is the same now as it was in 2007 and 2008.
Repeatedly it's been pointed out the program would be in a huge transition last year. It was pointed out that transition was still continuing (as perfectly evidenced by the lack of fit with players on the offensive line, for one example.)
And where are we as fans?
We just saw Bama back in the SECCG in year two. So, that's a check mark.
We are seeing Bama back in the playoffs and competiting for another national title. So, there's another check mark.
19-7 versus 19-8 for the first two years compared to each other.
I find it somewhat relatable to think of Saban talking to players after his last season and seeing so many interested in how they can improve their bank balance versus how they can improve on the field. I can see and understand, "this isn't what I signed up for." He was burnt out on what today is versus yesterday was.
I'm right there with him.
The bonfire I carried for college football my entire life is now a small campfire. The next camping site over is Alabama football. Just like being a fan of professional sports teams in the past, in the end there wasn't a lot lost in becoming a "casual."