re: Aubie media: Harsin already falling behind

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Nick Saban's first signing class at Alabama finished #7 in the SEC. And that was before the early-signing period that would have effectively removed 65-75% of players from the pool of available kids to convince last minute to come.

But hey, he's only the greatest recruiting head coach in college football history. Who had already been a SEC head coach and had contacts everywhere. And he finished #7. In the conference.

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Keep in mind, if there had been an ESD in 2006, it would likely have been on 12/13 - just 5 days after RichRod decided to remain in Morgantown*. So the 4* guys Saban picked up in the month he was on the job before NSD would likely have signed elsewhere.

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That said often times a new coach can generate buzz and excitement and I would argue the Harsin hire hasn't really done that. Especially not with recruits.

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I've been an AU fan since the Shug days. Not one of our HC hires have ever 'generated buzz and excitement'. In fact I'd place the Harsin hire near the top in those terms, mainly because of how awful it appeared the search was going right up until he was announced.

In fact, I can count on one hand the number of hires that generated any significant buzz in the last 20 years. Saban at Bama, Spurrier at SC, Fisher at TAMU, maybe Urb and Mullen at UF, that's about it.

(* It is my contention that Sexton contacted Moore and told him that he could get Saban after the NFL season ended, which is why RR 'withdrew his name from consideration')

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even without recruits.

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Have fun with that.

Wonder if Arky can build on that and win an SEC game in 2012?