Stefan Stevenson who covers TCU for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweeted the following earlier this evening.
Source close to Texas executive council of regents says Nick Saban will be next Longhorns coach.— Stefan Stevenson (@FollowtheFrogs) December 11, 2013
The Football Brainiacs who first reported about Saban to Texas a week ago also posted this long follow-up post: http://thefootballbrainiacs.com/notes-on-the-mack-brownnick-saban-situation.
This could actually be happening.
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That's interesting!! I think it's cool that they're doing a website similar to TKP, but they really need an editor
Hopefully this isn't over the line, but if this ends up being true.
It's looking more and more like a real thing, but I still haven't moved my large block of salt. I just can't take anything that seemed like such an obvious punch line/pipe dream/perfect scenario earlier in the year seriously. I'm not trying to say any of these claims aren't credible, just that I'd be a little surprised if the public guessed right. If it comes true, Horse gets a nice Christmas present
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This wouldn't surprise me at all if it happens. But, I really wonder why he wouldn't just want to consolidate his legacy at Bama?
All I can say is at times like this, I really appreciate the Frankinator's loyalty.
It's Saban, he gets bored.
Meh, I think it would be cool to win National championships at three different schools. Has anyone else done that?
At least he left Alabama in a better place than when he started (assuming he does actually leave).
Doesn't he tend to jump before the NCAA starts sniffing around?
I don't recall any issues at MI State or LSU before he left. He tends to follow the $$$.
Texas is hands down, bar none, the best football coaching job in the NCAA. They have the best facilities, the most money, and the best high school football players in the country who would run through a wall to put on a Longhorn uniform and play for a title.
(Plus, Austin is way, way cooler than Tuscaloosa.)
As far as Coach Beamer, I wouldn't be so sure he couldn't have been wooed away by the Longhorns 10-15 years ago. He played around with moving to Chapel Hill, if you'll remember.
Story goes that he was only doing that to fish for a raise. Obviously the truth is somewhere in between, but exactly where is unknown.
Actually, he had pretty much accepted the offer to coach at UNC but wanted to talk to his staff before it was announced and had a change of heart at the last minute.
From David Teel's Blog
DAMMIT FRANK, I LOVE YOU.
I can think of about 10 million reasons a year for Saban to go to Texas. Something that Bama can't match. Texas has the biggest purse strings in the country.
It's interesting how little time Saban spends at each stop along his way. He's barely been at Bama 6 years after bolting out of the NFL, and wasn't at LSU even a full decade.
yolo
Maybe Saban's like me playing PlayStation. Play with one team on NCAA football dynasty, get bored and change over to Madden briefly, get bored again and come back to NCAA to start another dynasty with a different team. I may not share the same football brain as Saban, but it seems like we have similar attention spans.
Yes, I am sure it is just like your video games.
I've been playing ncaa football for over a decade now and I don't think I've ever played a dynasty with anyone but the Hokies.
ot I know, but I cant stand playing as the Hokies. I always become too concerned with the players not performing like they should that I just cant enjoy the game. So I always end up picking a Big12 or Pac12 team that normally has no interaction with the hokies
Eh. Three time Heisman winner Eddie Royal doesn't like the way you think. Neither does one time winner Ike Whitaker. (??!!)
Me right now:
*Goes to Create-A-Player*
And your Heisman winner is...
Holy crap, how have I not done this yet??
Freshman year, my RA hosted a dynasty on his PS2, and about 12 guys on the hall played. Rule #1 was that he got to be Virginia Tech. That's the only time I have played as anyone other than the Hokies, unless I'm screwing around and lose as spectacularly as possible.
I'm currently working on a "Road to Glory" game in NCAA where I'm a QB. His name is Sir Richard Lilliputian X (for anyone who needs a definition like I did, lilliputian means small). I'm making him play really well in high school. Then he'll be taking his talents to Charlottesville. At this point I'm going to turn the difficulty to Heisman and play as terribly as possible for his entire collegiate career.
I just can't wait to see Dick Small the tenth line up for the Hoos
That's fantastic. Also, just about this subthread gave me the idea to rename all the UVA players to Key & Peele All Stars.
I love this idea: A virtual uva team.
Suggestions for uva player names:
Shaun Haberdasher, Frederick Smartapants, Justin Funderburk, Elijah Tweedsnot, Julian Julian II, Geoffrey Chaucer (I know), Monte Greedlove, Nicolas Laydown......
Can you make an all-argyle uniform?
I think this guy would be the perfect mascot:
Ha ha.
I did just laugh out loud.
That is uva football in one picture.
Hey...I know Elijah Tweedsnot. That guy's a total douche.
Ooh, I have one: Greyson Lambert.
Hey, hold on...
That name is actually available now. Lambert changed his name to "Bud's Breakfast"
Don't forget R.C. Willenbrock and BLAKE BLAZE who are real people that attempt to play the foosball at UVA and who also must be hated by their parents.
I think there are some parents that make sure their kids go to UVA.
I mean really, what school could a kid named Blake Blaze go to and not get beat up?
He would have been a legend at UAB. Just sayin.
My mom tried to make me want to go to UVA, despite the fact that my sister was already at Tech and I had made it clear I planned on joining her there. Mom dragged me down for a visit to Hooville my junior year of high school and got pissed afterwards when she asked how I liked it and I was honest. She STILL brings it up (seriously, last week, 16 years later) how I wasted her day like I didn't tell her beforehand I wasn't going there and there was no point to visit.
Luckily, I took it as a life lesson and got early exposure to the revisionist history that some wives use in arguing. Or at least MY wife does that like a champ.
Ah wedded bliss...
I have learned that the biggest mistake I can make is to think I'm saying something offhand like "If nothing else, we can always paint the baby's room white for the time being", which, months down the road in Lowes when looking at some nice pale shades of green leads the wife to say "But you insisted we paint the room white!".
You must be very careful in offering up opinions or options -- the wife will often think that whatever you say is what you hold dearest in your heart of hearts.
Women don't understand that men can hold several opinions and come up with many options that are all equally unimportant to us. We really just want to get back to the game. And maybe have a beer brought to us.
But you can't say that, if you all she'll hear is blah, blah, blah, unimportant, blah bal.
Then start crying because the baby isn't important to you.
Pregnant women are the worst about it. They take everything out of context and turn it into a crisis. Now that I think about it when my ex was pregnant I probably should of just said "Yes, dear" every time I talked to her during the last 6 or 7 months. Oh hindsight, how you are 20-20.
I liked to take teams like Wyoming or Idaho and build a power house. Playing the same team over and over after years and years kinda gets boring to me.
I've always downloaded the rosters. Even back in the pre internet days I would buy the rosters. I always hated playing with players I didn't know.
Let's see who's the first out of Alabama...me for Christmas break...or Saban for Texas.
It's a race!!
I wish I understood the college program hierarchy. I thought Alabama was at the top. Who knew Texas was higher? Who is higher than Texas? Among the many football things I don't understand. Like when linemen can move/adjust without it being a false start.
Let me clarify that hierarchy for you, because: I'm a giver.
.
If Boise State could come up with the cash, Saban would be there in a hot minute.
Ok apparently Im the giver here. I upvoted this and it jumped by four votes! FOUR!!
Did you polish your head in the Shine-O Ball-O?
Heard on the radio here in Hampton Roads that they were offering him $100M + 1% of the Longhorn Network over the next 10 years.
I can't figure this out either.
Only when they are in an upright position for pass protection (Not considered set) but once they put their hand on the ground they are not allowed to move.
And a QB under center can step back to shotgun, but if he starts in shotgun, he cannot take a direct snap from the center. (So when they step up to bark orders there's not a chance of them quick snapping the ball to fake out the D.)
The only one that MIGHT be higher than Texas would Notre Dame, but don't think Saban fits their profile.
Texas is at the top. And they are willing to PAY $$$$$$$$ to let everyone know it. (And Saban is willing to accept it to make sure that Texas is right.)
I give him 4 seasons to win one. 2017 Longhorns National Champs.
They'll be one of the 4 playoff teams in the 2015-2016 season.
Texas has the players right now, they just don't have the coaching. Will Muschamp and Mack Brown need each other. Too bad for Texas they couldn't see it.
does anyone else get the feeling that Saban gets bored once hes built something? he enjoys the building but not the ho-hum life at the top
Bud Foster, call DaShawn Hand.
GOOD POINT
I'd rather Bud call Hand than Bama call Bud.
Ever since this Saban-to-Texas stuff started like a month ago I've had this pipe dream that Hand would de-commit and wind up here. I know if he did de-commit he'd probably be at Michigan in a heartbeat, but it's nice to dream...
Saban to Texas, Dabo to Alabama, Chad Morris to Clemson head coach?
More likely Morris to Bama.
I just say Dabo b/c he played and GA'd/Coached at Bama in the past.
Neither. Bama won't hire Dabo, he's too clownish for them. They'd promote Kirby Smart way before that. And if they are going to hire a coordinator (which I doubt they will), they wouldn't hire Morris before Smart.
I'd bet on Charlie Strong. He's going to get a huge job in the SEC in the next 3 years, whether it is Bama, UGA or (most likely) Florida.
As profitable and well funded as the UL athletic department is I would think they'd be able to match almost any SEC program's salary offer to Strong and his assistants... Maybe I'm delusional though.
It doesn't matter, Strong will want to leave. You don't stay at Louisville when Florida comes calling.
Why not? (Seriously) I don't know Strong's background but the only thing holding UL back historically (I would think) would havebeen its membership in second tier conferences. They'll be in the ACC next season and will only add to their giant pile of money. Plus Louisville > Gainesville.
And don't forget this guy:
My best guess is that Bama will sweeten his contract just enough for him to stay on. I think he is well set there.
Of course the wildcard is the LH network revenue. Have a feeling that has much more potential than just the salary.
Would De'Shawn Hand de-commit from Alabama (possible)? Would he reconsider VT (not probable)?
Nah, he'd go to Michigan. A Bachelor's in Sports Marketing, not a Major in Marketing and minor in Sports Marketing, is super important to him.
Out of sarcasm. That ship has sailed, he's going to a traditional power because NFL.
Love how that ship sailed right into civil engineering. I didn't like how that happened...
As zomfgbbqhax pointed out, the writing was on the wall that it was never about academics. I guess it's fair to not like it, but the whole thing seemed to me like he was trying to let Tech down easy with a reason that's hard to dispute.
Yeah I get it, but that made the let down worse. Just be truthful.
I don't have any ill will towards Hand and I hope he succeeds spectacularly at Alabama. If he wants to come back to school after NFL, Hokietown would be a great place for him. But while he's young and athletic, might as well take advantage of the opportunity he has in front of him: Get the best training possible to maximize your early career earnings and open up as many doors as possible.
I just hope he gets blocked into oblivion if he's ever up against Wyatt Teller.
I like this and I hate this...the cynical side of me says that there is absolutely no way Saban can take a THIRD program to the promise land (National Championship) but odds are with the recruits and resources that he has at his disposal, along with the fact that he is unarguably the best coach in College Football indicates that he will make Texas a QUEEN so to say in College Football (think Chess here, the Queen is the best piece on the board). For some reason I feel better with Alabama at the top than Texas at the top, it epitomizes College Football better in my opinion. AKA some meaningless state (ALABAMA) can control College Football, unlike in most sports where the dominant powers usually come from big markets. I do not think this really matters to us at all though because we will not be in the national picture until 2016 (hopefully).
What? I'm hoping to be there next year.
We have to get through Ohio State at the Horseshoe. And don't we also get FSU next year?
The next regular-season matchup with FSU is 2018.
Yes, first week in December in Charlotte.
NICE and turkey leggy. Well played vtnerf.
I said "hoping", not "expecting". There's always a chance at an undefeated season, up until you lose your first game. And even then there's still a chance for a playoff spot, until you lose again. And even then there's a chance for the second coming of the 2007 season, where a 2-loss Virginia Tech missed a berth to the MNCG to a 2-loss LSU. Anything can happen, that's why we play the games.
Well, Urban better get some shitty stadium pizza ready for after that game, s'all I'm sayin.
If he did take Texas to a MNC...would he be the greatest head coach of all time in college?
Also, he will never be the greatest head coach in the history of Alabama. But he could walk into that title day 1 at pretty much any other school.
another interesting question. how far will bama fall off without saban?
Greatly depends on who the next HC would be there. Suffice to say that their recruiting would take a big hit immediately, and their on field performance would likely go down initially as Saban would haul much of his staff with him to TX and the new Bama staff would have to install their system. If the new HC and coordinators were strong, Bama could return to glory in 2-3 years, IMO. They will always have a large and rabid fanbase.
I would imagine a potential of Kirby Smart being the next head coach at Bama. That might split the rest of the coaching staff. Maybe.
When Saban's wife started complaining about the Bama fans I expected that something may be brewing. I bet he goes. If the wife is not happy the coach isn't either. Maybe she is why he moves so much.
Happy wife, happy life.
AMEN!!!!^^^^^^^
I wonder if him leaving and Bama struggling, would the SEC be less favored? Would the big 12 be the next loved league?
They are headed in that direction...Baylor, Ok St, OK, Texas. With Saban at the helm, might push them closer. But the real determining factor is crystal trophies. At this point, that goes through the $EC.
If Saban switches, he'll bring in some trophies and flip complete.
Agreed.
ESPN is reporting that Saban was offered a contract extension with Bama on Friday. He has not signed it.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10118037/alabama-crimson-...
Scramble much?
Sorry Bama, you're late to the party. Reminds me of Fox stealing the US Open coverage from NBC.
The $EC is getting really nervous
Saban wants to be the biggest thing in College Football.
Texas, as big as it is, is not it.
Interesting...
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10118037/alabama-crimson-...
The fact that Finebaum is nervous that he will leave shows that Bama's chances of keeping him are very low at this point.
This is a victory for the good in college football, because hopefully Bama will no longer be sniffing around the MNC year after year after year.
Right, it'll just be Texas instead. Not sure if that's better, guess it depends on your perspective.
Eventually, probably, yeah. I've just got some ABTY (Anybody but the Yankees) going on with Bama though.
$20 says that 5 years from now you'll be saying the same thing about Texas.
Maybe. Let's let those 5 years actually happen first
LO freaking L Stefan has caused quite a stir. I live in Alabama and here at work today people are literally "freaking out" - It is like they have already started going through the Kubler-Ross cycle. I am serious. Some are trying to comfort themselves and others, "Don't worry, Saban would never leave us for money." Some are angry at Texas "Greedy, jealous, raiders who think they can buy happiness". THIS actually got said. One receptionist is literally near tears. I was reminded of this:
That's awesome.
So, it's kinda like Hokies would be if LOLUVa announced they were firing ML.
So...SEC has this new team called "Auburn", along with a couple others. And they have a Championship game. I think the Former 12 needs a little more than Saban to change the landscape.
GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY.
btw.
Go Army, Beat Navy! Reppin' my family
Based on the posted picture, I'm going to assume you're a jackass. GET IT??? GO NAVY. BEAT ARMY
It's the Cav horse thinking he's on a treadmill.
Army needs a Kyle Fuller to spy the Navy QB, but that pick on the Squids' opening drive will do.
Army holds them to a FG, but that's probably game.
If this happens Auburn will dominate the state of Alabama for many years to come.
I could live with that. Bama has had their run, time for some parity.
Maybe this is just me, but why would Saban really want to leave? Yes, Texas can pay oodles of money, but let's be real, he's already got enough money he can make toilet paper out of it. I feel like considering what he already has at Alabama, Saban will stay another 6 or 7 years, and retire as one of the best coaches the game has seen.
If he goes to Texas and wins the NC, he won't need those 6-7 years. It would be solidified so quickly.
No coach has ever won the MNC at 3 different universities, if I remember correctly. Maybe Saban would like a little slice of history, kind of like Tiger Woods trying to break the Golden Bear's record for winning golf majors. (May it never be so.)
I have always wondered why Saban has jumped around as much as he has. I don't think it's about the money. He's going to get paid boatloads of cash wherever he goes; he's an outstanding football coach. I have often wondered if he gets bored too easily. He could sit back and continually reload Bama and have them in a position to win just about every year. Or he could go to Texas, build that program up, and likely win a MNC at a third school. If he does end up at Texas, I'd say his motivations are clear - he likes the challenge.
Agreed. From coaches I have known in high school and collegiate sports there are those that are tradition coaches and those that are professional coaches. A tradition coach being someone who cares deeply about the place, school and team that he/she coaches in so much as they don't ever want to leave. And a professional, of course, being those that treat it as any other job. They look for challenging positions and want to do them because they have a drive to conquer that particular job/location.
I think the devil... uh... Saban of course is the professional. He's not going to bleed any school colors. He simply wants to prove he's the best. In this case I would definitely see the devil... damn't... Saban moving to Texas. Why not? It's not about Texas being the better recruiter or location or money. It's about doing what Mack Brown and others have failed to do in recent history. Make Texas Texas again and dominate the world of college football.
I think it's that simple.
Agreed. Saban is the man, and he is not opposed to being paid for it. It actually is a part of his validation. Getting a huge salary (the biggest in NCAA) is just as delicious to him as winning it all because it shows that he has been crowned the best in the business. Nothing wrong with that. He would also relish the chance to win at a third school, because again, it proves that he is a maul sack.
I agree, I hate to mention it because I feel like I do way to much but professional soccer coaches do it all the time. Once their team starts getting successful they do have a tendency to ditch it (aside from sir alex ferguson...but screw that guy) anywho coaches like Jose Mourinho are guaranteed to jump around every four or five years just because they like the challenge of starting from scratch and winning it all. If they can do it (with a big ole fat contract to go with it) then it satisfies and proves that they are indeed the best there is. They even admit to it and say "I'm ready for a new challenge" Nick Saban just has the same outlook I think.
I never really thought Saban jumped around that much. Not any more than any other coach looking for a better opportunity. All of his moves have been upgrades compared to where he currently was.
If we just look at him once he became a head coach at the Div IA level (my argument is that every move prior to this is to get to a HC gig):
Leaves Michigan State for LSU (upgrade)
Leaves LSU for Miami Dolphins (upgrade it's the NFL and there was potential there)
Leaves Dolphins for Alabama (learns he can't yell at/control millionaires like he can with kids)
I guess my point is, I do not think we can use the "he gets bored" argument since all of his moves have been made to help him advance. Now that he is at the pinnacle of college football, maybe he is bored now...but not prior.
the path to "the playoff" is easier from the B12. that's what its all about now, making that Final Four.
How many kids decommit once Saban leaves..??? Does that/could that help us with the Da'Shawn Hand situation?
I'd like to think it would help. But if he's willing to go to Tuscaloosa, why not Austin?
Depends on if they get Jimbo Fisher or not.
How awkward would that be, to offer Fisher before the National Championship game?
What a dick move by the SEC. Their national title streak is threatened and they pull that garbage.
I think they just want the best coach available, and since Jimbo was Saban's OC at LSU, there is a connection there.
"There's a hiring coming, Mr. Battle. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you're all gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us."
The specter of the Texas Board of Regents meeting that will begin at 2:30 p.m. Central that may determine the future of university president Bill Powers and may include a vote on his removal. Powers is the last remaining Brown ally in power.
That would be hilarious if a University President is removed for supporting an unpopular football coach.
The thought around here (Austin) is that Mack Brown is slowing the process down for Saban to be hired. ESPN Austin has been naming every coach and their mother as a candidate for the next HC at UT.
If he's really about the money why doesn't he go to the NFL? Oh wait
Wasn't today supposed to be the day? Did anything happen? I can't find any updates except the weird tweets from Mack Brown this morning.
Hmmm...
And then there's this...
I wonder what's really going on behind the scenes. Maybe the administration is trying to force Brown out?
Saban just signed a multi-year extension at Alabama. That part of this story is officially and completely dead.
http://msn.foxsports.com/college-football/story/nick-saban-alabama-head-...
Alabama fans to Texas fans