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.
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.
Last edited:
