re: Could Saban win a national championship at South Carolina?

quote:

---

I think it's Shawn Elliott's job to lose. I do not pretend to have any kind of inside info/look at the program, but he's young, a great recruiter, the architect of our successful ground game, and he's from Camden. Plus, he's got the demeanor. Just a hunch, but I would be surprised if he isn't seriously considered.

scrooster has some inside info with the program. What are your thoughts?

---

I like Shawn - a lot. But I'll be shocked if it is Shawn.

I've always speculated, that if they hire from within, it'll be Bubba. Missy loves it here, the kids love it here. Bubba's been here since day one. He's done all the jobs, managed every aspect of the football program itself. He has the resume. Has a good relationship with all the other coaches on the staff, as well as administrators and BoT members, past and current. Ray would feel like he could hire him for a bargain and let him work his way into the really big money. IMHO they began grooming Bubba for the job about three years ago. And we're not going to be able to tell a whole lot of difference between Bubba and the HBC except for Bubba has more energy and Bubba is a bit more open to trying new things. Additionally, Bubba's recruiting skills are under-appreciated IMHO. He closes more than most know. He's also the coordinator and he also has established an excellent repore with the instate high school coaches. What I like most about Junior is, he's always flown under the radar. Unlike Skippy under Lou, Bubba has kept a low profile and just done what was asked of him, and more, without ever seeking the limelight. Plus he's got a great sense of humor. Melissa and he call Columbia home, and you can't put enough value on that either.

But who knows what Ray will do when the time comes. I suspect, given his and Junior's relationship, that Bubba is going to get a good long look thyough - and probably the job IMHO.

One other thing to consider. Spurrier and Ray and like brothers. Probably the closest AD-HC relationship in the country. Both of them are very calculating and both of them are planners. I suspect both of them already have an idea who it is going to be ... even though it's not going to happen until after the end of the 2016 season.

quote:

---

... to build here the foundation that Spurrier and Hyman did. USC is now an attractive job for the next coach ... We couldn't say that after Holtz...

---

I agree with you on everything in your entire post above except this one last thing

Hyman gets too much credit. Mike McGee was the one that had everything in place already. McGee build the Colonial Center. The baseball stadium money was already there - the only finalizing that had to be done was with regard to the Guignards and the land and Hyman almost screwed that up. The Dodie was endowed money - Hyman had no hand in that. It was always going to be endowed to the University's sports program. And trust me when I type this ... Hyman was not well-liked by either Spurrier (especially) or Ray. Matter of fact Hyman tried hard to lobby against Ray being his successor. Both of them were glad to see him go.

Hyman was a prick - and always will be. I give him credit for Dawn Staley and Frank Martin, not much else. And he gets credit for Darin Horn just like McGee gets credit for Brad Scott.

McGee is the man that laid the foundation we are building upon today. McGee hired Holtz, and people forget, McGee hired Spurrier. We almost lost Spurrier at one time, because of Hyman. Hyman was the most egotistical self-centered prick I've ever been in a Lincoln with ... he's all about "I, me, my" and you rarely hear him say "we, ours," or "together."

Then, that thing you typed about not being able to call this an attractive job after Holtz ..... my question is, if Holtz didn't help to turn this into an attractive job, then how did we attract Spurrier?

That segues into my next thought. Lou Holtz does not get enough credit. I love that man for what he did for us ... and it was all because of his sense of loyalty to us - and his respect for Mike McGee. I got to spend some time with Lou when he was here earlier this season ... he's really aged. The years are catching-up to him. But the man was so proud of the place, so happy to be back, so grateful for his memories here and complimentary of what we've accomplished since his departure ... but he had more to do with us turning it around probably than anyone. Few, very few, realize the dire straights we were in by the time Brad Scott was fired.

Anyways, good stuff Royal Air. This is a good discussion thread, thanks. :)

Would Saban win a national championship here?

Someone's already typed it. Saban is not a builder, he's a maintainer. He takes high level programs to the next level. Holtz is a builder, a sprinter. Spurrier and Saban are far more alike than most people might admit ... it's just that Spurrier likes more of a challenge than does Saban evidently.

Here's the better overall question IMHO.

Could Spurrier have come-in and won a couple of national championships at Alabama?