Air of confidence: Saban remains focus, but it is a high stakes game Moore is playing
Listening to outsiders, the Alabama coaching search is a disaster. But if you listen to those close to the program or in the administration, there seems to be an air of confidence that this search will end on a positive note. There is not a frantic scramble. There is no panic. The University is moving ahead, privately, with its coaching search.
Despite the Thursday afternoon denial by Nick Saban, a person close to the administration (OH MY, DID I JUST USE THE ANONYMOUS SOURCE?!?), insisted Saban remains the candidate. On Wednesday afternoon, Saban told reporters he would not be the Alabama coach. It was his most specific denial to date. However, elements of Saban's story have contradicted versions of the story relayed by his agent Jimmy Sexton.
Previously, Sexton told the media that Alabama had not contacted him about Nick Saban. Later, Saban told the media, Alabama had contacted his agent, but Saban said he declined to discuss the opportunity since he wanted to stay with the Dolphins.
Someone's not telling the truth.
You can bet it is the agent.
It appears from the beginning, Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore wanted Saban.
He offered only an half-hearted attempt at Steve Spurrier, then followed that up with the Rich Rodriguez fiasco.
Moore was willing to settle for Rodriguez and to be honest that wasn't a bad decision. Rodriguez would've offered Alabama new blood and a new direction for the football program. It would have been a safe hire and ended weeks of speculation begun prior to the ouster of Mike Shula. However, someone, possibly University bureaucrats involved in the negotiations or perhaps Mal Moore or Dr. Robert Witt or even members of the Board of Trustees, interfered with the process. The result was an offer to Rodriguez, which was easily matched by West Virginia. The offer also complicated the relationship with Rodriguez. The coach was frustrated by the unsatisfactory offer (an offer paying him substantially less than Auburn's Tommy Tuberville.)
The numerous leaks within the University scuttled the Rodriguez deal by allowing UWV to craft a counteroffer. Leaks plagued the entire process and led to a credibility problem for the University and its officials.
The situation now has Mal Moore sitting in a high-stakes game of poker. Like the gambler, he's holding them, waiting on the end of the NFL season. There is a very real danger involved if Saban is not hired. Moore missed out on his best chance to play it safe and the Rodriguez hire was botched. Now there is no turning back. If Alabama doesn't land an A-list coach, the focus of fan discontent will fall squarely on Moore. For the moment, people around the program seem confident, but in the background consultant Chuck Neinas has worked on a doomsday back-up plan in case the Saban gamble fails.
Other news: From the Miami Herald, denials are not enough to be convincing.
Despite the Thursday afternoon denial by Nick Saban, a person close to the administration (OH MY, DID I JUST USE THE ANONYMOUS SOURCE?!?), insisted Saban remains the candidate. On Wednesday afternoon, Saban told reporters he would not be the Alabama coach. It was his most specific denial to date. However, elements of Saban's story have contradicted versions of the story relayed by his agent Jimmy Sexton.
Previously, Sexton told the media that Alabama had not contacted him about Nick Saban. Later, Saban told the media, Alabama had contacted his agent, but Saban said he declined to discuss the opportunity since he wanted to stay with the Dolphins.
Someone's not telling the truth.
You can bet it is the agent.
It appears from the beginning, Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore wanted Saban.
He offered only an half-hearted attempt at Steve Spurrier, then followed that up with the Rich Rodriguez fiasco.
Moore was willing to settle for Rodriguez and to be honest that wasn't a bad decision. Rodriguez would've offered Alabama new blood and a new direction for the football program. It would have been a safe hire and ended weeks of speculation begun prior to the ouster of Mike Shula. However, someone, possibly University bureaucrats involved in the negotiations or perhaps Mal Moore or Dr. Robert Witt or even members of the Board of Trustees, interfered with the process. The result was an offer to Rodriguez, which was easily matched by West Virginia. The offer also complicated the relationship with Rodriguez. The coach was frustrated by the unsatisfactory offer (an offer paying him substantially less than Auburn's Tommy Tuberville.)
The numerous leaks within the University scuttled the Rodriguez deal by allowing UWV to craft a counteroffer. Leaks plagued the entire process and led to a credibility problem for the University and its officials.
The situation now has Mal Moore sitting in a high-stakes game of poker. Like the gambler, he's holding them, waiting on the end of the NFL season. There is a very real danger involved if Saban is not hired. Moore missed out on his best chance to play it safe and the Rodriguez hire was botched. Now there is no turning back. If Alabama doesn't land an A-list coach, the focus of fan discontent will fall squarely on Moore. For the moment, people around the program seem confident, but in the background consultant Chuck Neinas has worked on a doomsday back-up plan in case the Saban gamble fails.
Other news: From the Miami Herald, denials are not enough to be convincing.
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