re: Saban is great but...

Yeah. He's a great coach. Perhaps even the best coach ever but due to some of his decisions the last couple of years, I am no longer sure he's as good as Bryant. He certainly is not infallible.

I think he made a mistake not giving Barnett more playing time last year, which led to his transfer. Some posters talk about practice turnovers precluding Tagovailoa from starting this year, but Jalen Hurts turned the ball over 14 times last year, and fumbled several more that we recovered For that matter, if fumbling in practices will preclude you from playing, 14 turnovers in real live games should lead to any other quarterback getting a chance, even Bateman (last year). Oh, and I should add that Barnett turned the ball over 0 times. I think he'd have improved and been able to move the ball consistently enough to beat Clemson last year. Hurts managed only 2 series more than 5 plays, which resulted in Clemson running 99 plays. Our defense last year was great, but you give a good offense that many plays, and you'll get beat. Our defense also forced 2 turnovers on Clemson's side of the field, and Hurts' offense managed 3 points for it.

Secondly, I think it was a mistake to replace the offensive coordinator a week before the final game. He should have let Kiffin stay for the game.

This year, Tagovailoa is clearly way the hell better than Hurts. He should have at least played in the Auburn game after Hurts, again, failed to produce an effective offense. We've won all these games the last 2 years in spite of Jalen Hurts, not because of Jalen Hurts. He is at best an average quarterback at this level.

So yeah, I think Saban's decisions may have cost us a national title last season and a victory at Auburn this year.