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  • Poll
The next GOAT

What is DeBoer going to be

  • The next GOAT coach when he retires in 20 years or so

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • The goat (in the old sense) filling in while the fans expectations drop and hire the next GOAT

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Good enough for most schools, but not Alabama

    Votes: 4 40.0%
  • In the playoffs every year but not winning another natty to take home to Tuscaloosa

    Votes: 6 60.0%
  • Just waiting to play Washington and Oregon in non conference games

    Votes: 0 0.0%

What is Deboer going to be the?

Early thoughts on the rumors and speculation

To be clear there is not a lot of definitive information that I can offer at this point but will try to be as open as possible about what I ahve heard so far:

BACKGROUND INFO:
- While the official news came as a surprise to Greg Byrne around 2PM EST today and the players were told at 4 PM, the reality is that the speculation began back in late August that this might be the last go around for Saban.
- That speculation was not just hopeful Auburn fans but people with some knowledge of Sabans's thoughts heading into the season.
- Greg Byrne is not giving a single speck of information to ANY reporter about his top candidates until a deal is done.
- Alabama had a players led, players only meeting and all of them are trying to keep what is there in tact for the same 72 hours that Byrne asked the team for in the earlier meeting.
- That means Byrne is fairly confident that a hire is annouced within that time frame.
- That also means that Byrne has been calling around and working the backchannels since September just in case this came around
- Do I know whon Byrne's top choice is? No. I know what agents have told reporters and it will always be the 'hot names' out there that are the shiny new object - and that includes Lanning.

OREGON INFO:
- Not a ton yet, but a couple of thoughts. First, the Bama job opening at the end of the season was a known commodity by agents a few months ago. I.E., if agents knew, coaches knew. Since Jimmy Sexton is the BSD of agents, and is Lanning's agent, that means Lanning probably knew this was coming a while ago.
- Don't believe the reports about Lanning being in Tuscaloosa. He was in Nashville today at the AFCA Convention that got over at 3PM.
- Lanning has a son about to enter high school, another in 6th grade, and another in grade school.
- People with ties to the athletic department indicated tonight that they truly believed that Lanning meant what he said about not wanting to move again. These were not AD personnel, but people with some connection.
- Alabama is an elite job where the resources go a long way and will be enticing to a lot of coaches. I know Byrne has talked to Lanning's agent, but I cannot confirm how much of that was about Lanning and how much was about the plethora of other coaches Sexton has as clients.
- It seems a stretch to think Alabama has Lanning as their number one only because he has literally two years of HC experience and does not have the depth that others might present.
- That doesn't mean he is not a candidate and not near the top of the list. What he has done at Oregon - turning the Ducks into an SEC style recruiting maching - is impressive and it shows a LOT about his ability to be the CEO; but are the Crimson Tide brass ready to go that direction? No one really knows.
- Anyone who says they know for sure Lanning is gone is probably being highly disengenuous. They are making a bet and will use a correct guess to say 'see I have sources' and a wrong guess to say 'fell apart at the last minute.'
- Some people inside Alabama circles think that there is an unwillingness by some power brokers to take on a $20 million buy out when there are other candidates (cough: DeBoer) who have a significantly lower buyout ($4.5 million).

I think we will know one way or another very quickly. The positive here is that a couple of players have already said that Lanning is not leaving (Jahlil Florence first) and so has JPJ's dad. May not be proof of anything, but was interesting to see both say essentially the same thing.

So What If...

Kalen says no to Bama?

Lanning is OUT

Sark is OUT

Norvell is OUT

If Kalen says no, it seems to me that at the very least it would be a great embarrassment to Alabama. They would be down to their 5th choice (theoretically).

I guess they would revisit Debo, Locksley, and, maybe, Lane.

This could turn out to be fun!

Good Thursday not to have a baskeball game

I can't imagine having to tear myself away from all of the fascinating BAMA Blab to watch a Duck basketball game tonight. :)

All we have this week is the Cal game Saturday evening (night for me) before heading off to the mountains next week. It would be nice if Dante or Biddle were back by then, considering all the trouble Oregon has winning in Colorado.

  • Poll
Early display of questionable judgement :)

Too early but soon enough to guess

  • Win it all and be in the final Natty game

    Votes: 1 4.3%
  • Be in the conference championship game (win or lose) and win at least one playoff game

    Votes: 13 56.5%
  • Fishish 3rd and be in the Natty playoffs

    Votes: 9 39.1%
  • Find out weakness and continue to build for the future

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Flop and Still beat any former PAC12 team they play

    Votes: 0 0.0%

Way too early poll but I think I'll repost this before 24starts and see if outlooks change.

Barring injury ... How will Oregon fare in it first B1G season

Statistically speaking: Oregon football leads FBS in passing, most prolific in program history; allows fewest yards since 1995

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