re: I’ve mentally accepted Lanning might go but seems like tide fans are split 50/50 on him.

Putting aside my Auburn bias, it seems really unlikely you’ll be able to sustain Saban’s work for more than a couple of seasons. Not that I expect Alabama to cease being competitive. I just think there might be one or two dudes out there who could do it with the minimal fall off and it’s tossing darts as to who that would be.

So go get a promising high profile coach who will get some buzz and knows the conference and hope for the best while accepting the reality that the next guy is probably going to be gone within 5-6 years. Seems like Lanning is as good a bet as any other and it seems unlikely he will dig a considerable hole for the guy who follows.