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re: 10 years ago today Rich Rodriguez turned Bama down. Heres what really happened
Posted on 12/8/16 at 6:00 pm to FearlessFreep
Posted on 12/8/16 at 6:00 pm to FearlessFreep
quote:
This is exactly what I was hearing from semi-connected Bama folks at the time it was happening.
The whole Mal flying down to convince Saban to come is a bunch of BS. Saban/Sexton reached out to Mal after the Tennessee game. Sexton even had a planted caller call into Finebaum to get the drumbeat for Saban going. When Shula lost to Mississippi State, he was done and Bama boosters told Mal to get Saban. Some boosters got cold feet at the thought of waiting on Saban thus the offer to Rich Rod. Sexton told Mal to wait and once we went a few weeks without any news it was clear we were waiting on Saban and no way would we be doing that if we weren't sure he was coming. Some BOT members even flew down to Miami the day after the Rich Rod deal in order to smooth things over with Saban.
Facebook wasn't as big of a deal back then but if any reporter had thought to have checked out Kristen Saban's Facebook page, they would've had the scoop of the century. Her status before Christmas was "I'm going to miss living in Miami."
I do wonder if Saban hadn't gone to Alabama that year, would LSU had helped Les pack his bags for Michigan in order to get Saban back in 2007.
This post was edited on 12/8/16 at 6:03 pm
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Posted on 12/8/16 at 7:08 pm to Gump4heisman
quote:
Hahaha. A few years ago, I was sitting around drinking with some friends and they brought up the Rich Rod hiring and how it imploded and we landed Saban. Someone said yea, thank the Finebaum show for that one. I have sense tried to take credit for their football happiness over the last 10 years.
A WVU buddy of mine said they always called her "Rhinestone Rita."
Posted on 12/8/16 at 7:13 pm to RECConspiracy
I will say Rich Rod was one big dude. I still remember how wide his shoulders were. I was praying he wouldn't hear me talking on my phone.
In retrospect, it was a risk worth taking.
I do want my own secn documentary titled "the phone call that changed college football".
I'll play myself.
In retrospect, it was a risk worth taking.
I do want my own secn documentary titled "the phone call that changed college football".
I'll play myself.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 7:55 pm to Gump4heisman
quote:
10 years ago today Rich Rodriguez turned Bama down. Heres what really happened
I will say Rich Rod was one big dude. I still remember how wide his shoulders were. I was praying he wouldn't hear me talking on my phone.
In retrospect, it was a risk worth taking.
I do want my own secn documentary titled "the phone call that changed college football".
I'll play myself.
ehehh. You did good.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 7:58 pm to Wolfhound45
quote:
Finebaum made fun of his wife and he got bent out of shape. Thank you Pawwwwwllllll!!
quote:
Not one pic of said wife. I disappoint.
Gawd, she was hideous.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 8:22 pm to StopRobot
Dam, was at not the ultimate blessing in disguise.
I was actually relieved he turned it down THAT DAY.
I was actually relieved he turned it down THAT DAY.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 8:38 pm to rockiee
I am not in the "know", I just go by what seems logical to me. This quote here is so Sabanish, I do believe he said it, but who knows?
quote:
"I just want you to know you've hired a horseshite football coach," Saban told Moore. "But nobody will out-recruit me."
Posted on 12/8/16 at 8:51 pm to Sid E Walker
quote:Breh, you have obviously researched and know the deal. That is a good looking picture of her.
Gawd, she was hideous.
Wow.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 8:58 pm to Wolfhound45
She looked like one of the cast members of Cats.
That clip is a from a family portrait that made the rounds 10 years ago on the message boards. Tried to find the entire photo but Richrod and the kids probably cropped themselves right out of it.
That clip is a from a family portrait that made the rounds 10 years ago on the message boards. Tried to find the entire photo but Richrod and the kids probably cropped themselves right out of it.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 9:14 pm to Sid E Walker
quote:
Tried to find the entire photo but Richrod and the kids probably cropped themselves right out of it.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 9:27 pm to partsman103
Saban would have went back to LSU when Miles went to Michigan
Posted on 12/8/16 at 9:34 pm to Wolfhound45
I heard it straight from Coach Mal Moore's mouth that they had an agreement in principle but CMM told CRR to keep it to himself and keep it quiet until it was a done deal. There were still issues to be worked out albeit minor ones, but he didn't want anyone sabotaging the deal. Then Rapoport's story broke. Mal knew it wasn't leaked on the Tuscaloosa side, he had that on lockdown as just a handful of close, trusted people knew the truth. According to CMM, Rodriguez got cold feet and let the story leak out to have the deal killed. It worked.
What Coach Moore didn't say, but if you read between the lines saw it was there, was that he wasn't 100% behind that choice and was pressured into going after CRR by some of the power brokers at Alabama. He was still certain that his main target was in Miami and that he had a shot at getting him as his target was not completely happy with his current job. Mal was elated when Rich Rod killed the deal and immediately set out on his primary target with renewed fervor. We all see how that worked out. The moral of the story is that the "power brokers" need to STFU and let the people with the knowledge and expertise do their job. (Are you listening, Texas?) Coach Moore was very close to one of the greatest coaches that ever lived. Don't you think he would recognize the same charcteristics if he saw them again in someone else? Who was right??
What Coach Moore didn't say, but if you read between the lines saw it was there, was that he wasn't 100% behind that choice and was pressured into going after CRR by some of the power brokers at Alabama. He was still certain that his main target was in Miami and that he had a shot at getting him as his target was not completely happy with his current job. Mal was elated when Rich Rod killed the deal and immediately set out on his primary target with renewed fervor. We all see how that worked out. The moral of the story is that the "power brokers" need to STFU and let the people with the knowledge and expertise do their job. (Are you listening, Texas?) Coach Moore was very close to one of the greatest coaches that ever lived. Don't you think he would recognize the same charcteristics if he saw them again in someone else? Who was right??
Posted on 12/8/16 at 9:48 pm to phil4bama
Yeah basically we wanted Saban and were going to settle for Rich Rod. He backed out so we rewent after Saban.
The rest is written in bronze and marble.
The rest is written in bronze and marble.
Posted on 12/8/16 at 10:19 pm to StopRobot
quote:
10 years ago today Rich Rodriguez turned Bama down
Same day that Peej said "Alabama will now be forced to hire the worst coach in ncaa history."
Posted on 12/8/16 at 11:09 pm to dbeck
I'm not a huge Finebaum fan, but I will say he was big on Saban at the time. It's not just s recent thing.
Posted on 12/12/16 at 4:58 pm to FearlessFreep
Running non-stop, but enjoying every minute of it. Hope all is well with you. Good to see you back!
Posted on 12/12/16 at 5:21 pm to StopRobot
Bama told Saban in 2004 that if you fail in the NFL we want to be your parachute.
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