Top 2024 QB recruit Julian Sayin to enter the portal. He was the offensive centerpiece of their 24 class.
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Another massive loss for Bama
- Thread starter 18IsTheMan
- Start date
This was my concern (or I guess I should say hope) with DeBoer. He doesn't strike me as a dynamic recruiter, which is a necessity in the SEC. Now maybe he can surround himself enough, but he's striking out with recruiting guys that are already enrolled in classes...with Saban still around the program to help with the transfer of power. You would think he'd be able to sell what he did with Penix to this kid. I guess not.
Recruits saw this and realized it was not what they signed up for.
The announcement that Saban would still be part of the program followed the publicity surrounding this audio.
www.totalprosports.com
The announcement that Saban would still be part of the program followed the publicity surrounding this audio.
Leaked Audio Exposes Kalen DeBoer Begging Washington Players To Understand His Decision To Leave Them For Alabama (VIDEO)
Leaked audio from Kalen DeBoer's last meeting with Washington players exposes head coach begging them to understand.
www.totalprosports.com
I can imagine Saban delivered his speech to his players in a clear, confident, direct way. I'm sure having heard that, then hearing this leak, provided a stark contrast for them.Recruits saw this and realized it was not what they signed up for.
The announcement that Saban would still be part of the program followed the publicity surrounding this audio.
Leaked Audio Exposes Kalen DeBoer Begging Washington Players To Understand His Decision To Leave Them For Alabama (VIDEO)
Leaked audio from Kalen DeBoer's last meeting with Washington players exposes head coach begging them to understand.
I honestly believe theses kids think it’s the HIP thing to do is to enter the portal.
Saban could truthfully recruit kids with the "promise" of a future in the NFL. That is what a lot of the top recruits in the country are looking for. Bama and UGA are loading up the NFL every year and that is a huge selling point to recruits.
I think there are still some kids who really want to go to a particular school, who have always dreamed of playing for one school, but I don't think a coach can rely on getting enough top talent kids like that to win big. The top recruits are looking for a place that will get them into the NFL.
This same thing happened to us when SOS made his comments but they were only commitments. This is 100x worse for Bama.
Alabama was basically counting on the next coach just keeping the Alabama machine going. But this is an indication that the Alabama machine was the Saban machine. In the absence of any on field results, I would say this had to be concerning to the fans.
I think this may have to do with Austin Mack following DeBoer to Bama. Kid is a 6'6", former 4-star QB that has already been in the Washington system. Sayin probably wants fewer hurdles to a starting job as a 5-star kid (he'd probably be third-string in Spring Practice).
That said, Bama is a different job now. For players and assistant coaches. Bama was a direct line to the NFL for players, and a head coaching job for assistants. Now the program is still Top 5, but before it was in a league of its own.
That said, Bama is a different job now. For players and assistant coaches. Bama was a direct line to the NFL for players, and a head coaching job for assistants. Now the program is still Top 5, but before it was in a league of its own.
Can't wait to see the reaction DeBoer gets on the spring booster circuit.
Speaker's podium will likely be behind a plexiglass shield.
Speaker's podium will likely be behind a plexiglass shield.
It would be almost impossible to follow Saban and keep things going at an all time high. I saw on SECRant that someone said this would go down one of their worst coaching hires ever. I thought to myself, "this is coming from the school that hired Mike Price....'
HAHA! I saw one of the Bama fanboy media guys on X today saying this coaching staff will be an UPGRADE.
Well, if he wins games, he’ll be fine. Ultimately, Saban got top players to go there because he won a lot. However, if he stumbles, it will be interesting. They will not be favored to beat Georgia next year and that’s a game Tennessee should win in Knoxville. They escaped Auburn by the hair, their chinny chin chin, and they appear to be getting better this off-season as well. Can you imagine if they lose to Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn in the same season?
Saban knew top players didn't have the same incentive (NFL path) to choose BAMA over the big money schools anymore due to the NIL and Portal madness. Very well played getting out before college football moves into complete disarray.
With a new $17 mil beach house and nothing left to prove, it was a no brainer.
He'd have gotten his players if he'd stuck around, but I'm positive he simply didn't want to deal with the hassle of it all.
These events are really just a blow to the Bama image.
He would have had a whole lot more competition, especially with big money teams like Texas and OU arriving. I don't think Alabama could (or would under Saban) pay these new $10mil a year guys. That's only going to grow as the NIL grows unless fans find other avenues of entertainment and make a real revolt or something gives on the legal front.
That's embarrassing - cringeworthy.Recruits saw this and realized it was not what they signed up for.
The announcement that Saban would still be part of the program followed the publicity surrounding this audio.
Leaked Audio Exposes Kalen DeBoer Begging Washington Players To Understand His Decision To Leave Them For Alabama (VIDEO)
Leaked audio from Kalen DeBoer's last meeting with Washington players exposes head coach begging them to understand.
You never want to be the man after the MAN. You always want to be the man, who followed the man, after THE Man. Anyone was going to have an impossible task of following Saban.
Read a good write-up on this, asking if Deboer is destined to fail. He's fortunate in that, Alabama is likely getting into most 12-team playoff scenarios, but the fans there won't be happy just squeaking in. Ryan Day is an absurd 56-8 (36-3) with 4 top 5 finishes in 5 seasons, and yet fans are not terribly happy with him. Multiply that by 50 for the pressure Deboer will get at Bama. One thing he lacks is Saban's pull. Does Bama get pushed into the playoffs last season were Saban not the coach? Unlikely. Bama has likely had some favorable treatment in the polls over the years due to Saban's presence. Deboer doesn't get that treatment. He's widely regarded as a great coach, but Saban was THE greatest coach.
Notably, "failure" for Deboer does not mean losing records and no bowl games. Failure means 10-2 or 9-3 records and not making the playoffs every single year. Imagine if they were to lose to Georgia AND UT next year...and Auburn. Three losses in their most important games. They also play at OU at LSU and have an improved Mizzou coming to Tuscaloosa.
Breaking in a new staff and with the loss of several key contributors from last year's team, it's not hard at all to see 3 losses on that schedule, or even...gasp...4. You combine Alabama's worst record since 2010 and the absence of Nick Saban and it's a potential recipe for disaster. You lose the "Saban discount" with recruits and now you're not the premiere team in the SEC any longer.
Maybe he'll end up navigating it all perfectly and Bama won't miss a beat. It's a precarious situation, though, with a very small margin for error.
I think Deboer gets a "Mulligan year" in '24. He can lose 4, even 5 games and he is safe. 2025 will be the year Bama fans expect a championship of some kind.
The big challenge for Deboer or whoever the Bama coach is will be the expectation of competing for a national championship every single year.
Problem is, though, if disaster should strike and they stumble to 4 losses in '24, it could easily snowball. It is noted that Deboer is not a great recruiter. On top of that. Alabama would have just had their worst record since Mike Shula. They would likely be the 3rd or 4th best team in the SEC. And they no longer have the Saban recruiting chip. If recruits perceive Bama to be slipping and Deboer is already not a great recruiter, it could spiral for hiim
Just don't think he can afford a down year in '24 from that perspective. I think he needs to show he can keep Bama at/near the level of the Saban era.
It is true that he won with lesser talent at UW, but he was also facing much lesser talent on a week-in, week-out basis than he will in the SEC. The SEC is just a gauntlet. UGA, UT, LSU, OU and throw in Mizzou.
Not at all saying he CAN'T succeed. I hope he doesn't, as we all should, given the new single division format. Just think he has a narrow path.
I agree with all of that. My point was; the heat won't be turned way up next season, there will be some forgiveness if he loses 3 or 4 games. After that, it will be full on Bama arrogance and expectations. Woe be unto Deboer if he isn't top 4 in the playoff in 2025.
Agree that he's not gonna get canned after next season short of stumbling to a 6-6 record or something and him just looking like he's in over his head, a la Bryan Harsin (Bama boosters would not wait for a second year like Auburn did).