When did the SEC start this decline? Is it really Saban’s fault?

It's Saban fault in the sense of how other schools reacted

Lets not underrate hoe many Saban tree folks are involved

So two fold his greatness hurt them
And his assistants shitness hurt them

"Your team is the greatest, lock for Atlanta, Undefeated forever" -Rat Poison

There really is no secret to what caused the decline and why it happened. Ultimately government employees lacking the basic skills for hiring employees. The formula for hiring good employees is really no secret:

1) Hiring a coach with the same goals/values as the AD/administration.
2)Extending trust instead of micromanaging.
3)Clear expectations.
4)Accountability - Response to mistakes
5)Competency

And ultimately 6) delivering results. When you violate 4 out of 5 in your hire, you should not be surprised when the coach doesn't deliver results.

Chizik's firing had nothing to do with Saban. Chizik was fired for going 0-8 in the SEC. He would have been fired right after the IB even if he somehow managed to win that game.

For whatever reason he decided after year 3 that he wanted a pro-style offense without realizing that he didn't have the players to run a pro-style offense. Malzhan came back the next year and took us to the NC game.

Chiz hired Scot Loeffler. That guy is terrible. He cost Chizik his job then went to VT and ended Beamer's career. Then somehow this week he beat the shite out of Charles Kelly's defense with all 2-star players.