re: How the hell did Bama not win the West last year?

I think the game has passed Saban by.

Sure, they recruit insanely well, on reputation. But he used to control every aspect of the game at one time.
He gave up the offense a few years back, after conceding you had to score 40 pts a game to win it all; and he seems similarly hands-off on the defense the past couple years.

Now, he just brings in a ton of talent, and is basically a spectator on the sidelines.