re: Bama has taken 5 steps backwards

He’s actually bama’s 4th choice. You’re delusional if you don’t think there was agent communication with Lanning, Stark and Norvell. There’s a reason they all came out at the same time saying they were staying where they are.
You’re in for a painful 3-4 years until Bama has to move on and eventually hire Kiffin.