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Actually, a slide into mediocrity would be the exception not the rule for the Bama program. Since 1923 Bama has had 67 years under 5 different 80+% coaches (The rest of the SEC has a combined 3 such (at least 6 years) coaches: Neyland, Spurrier and Meyer. AU has 1 who barely made it over 70%), the other 28 years, 10 of which were crippled by a catastrophic probation that won't be repeated, Bama was still 50 games over .500 and won 3 SEC titles (more than UK, Vandy, MSU, Ark, USCe, A&M, Mo have combined in their history. Almost half of what AU has in its 85 year SEC history). So, Bama is 250% more likely to enter another NC period than it is to enter just an SECC period.

To assume anything is folly, especially a repeat of the past 10 years. In fact, Saban himself might not be able to produce that again. Though circumstances are not the same now as they have been the last 95 years, in some ways they are worse in others they are better, the likelihood of Bama being elite (1 or 2 NC in 10 years) is far greater than otherwise. Bama has won NCs in 7 of the past 10 decades (I don't count '41). They have won at least 1 SECC in all 9 decades of its existence. Alabama has been very consistent - '97-06 were so bad primarily because of the catastrophic sanctions which will not be repeated. Even then Bama had 3 10 wins seasons and one SEC title.

As far as Saban appointing a successor - I hope not. Input yes, decision no. That should be the AD's job. If Saban wanted to push for it sure, he deserves it, but he's not that type anyway. Hope it's not a Saban disciple unless he is the best coach available. Dabo probably won't come, at least not the first time. Maybe Pruitt, maybe Tosh, maybe... Who knows what the state of the game will be and who will be desirable and available when Saban retires. IMO, it will be 5-10 years.