Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Terrion Arnold denied rumors that head coach Nick Saban’s 27-20 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl would be his last game.
Arnold, who was an All-American this year, was posed the question on the “3 Man Front” show, according to an article from On3.
“Coach Saban ain’t goin’ nowhere. He’s gonna die coaching,” Arnold said.
Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner shared a similar sentiment in a CBS Sports article when asked about Saban’s potential retirement.
“There has been a lot more rumors and stuff like that of him leaving,” Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner said. “But what I’m seeing right now, he’s investing in what he’s doing. Of course, there’s going to be a time and place where he’s going to have to step down. Right now, there’s no slowing down for him.”
Rumors have been swirling all year regarding the retirement of Saban. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, a former underling of Saban, mentioned that his matchup against Alabama this year may be his last time going against his former boss in a Sports Keeda article.
“So, we’re very excited for this opportunity today – and you never know how many more you’ve got. Maybe this is our last time. So, we’ll be very excited for this opportunity today, and so much respect for Coach and the Alabama football program,” Kiffin said.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban could retire right now and still be the best coach in college football history
After a loss in the Rose Bowl, this will be the first time in Nick Saban’s Alabama tenure that he recruited a class that did not win a national championship. That only applies if a member of the class decides to leave after their junior year.
Saban has seven total national championships, and six of them were with Alabama. Before this season, Saban had been to a national championship game in two of the last three years. Saban’s first year at Alabama in 2007 is the only time that he had under 10 wins in a season with the Crimson Tide.
Saban’s sustained success is even more impressive when you consider the coaching carousel that has taken place under him at the various places he has coached. Saban has one of the most impressive coaching trees in the history of the sport. Coaches that worked with Saban in some capacity include:
- Kirby Smart
- Lane Kiffin
- Will Muschamp
- Jeremy Pruitt
- Mark Dantonio
- Jimbo Fisher
- Bill O’Brien
- Steve Sarkisian
- Jim McElwain
- Mel Tucker
- Billy Napier
- Mario Cristobal
- Mike Locksley
- Jason Garrett
- Dan Lanning
- Major Applewhite
- Brian Daboll
- Curt Cignetti
Saban has 10 title game appearances, and he has lost just three times. Saban has coached 15 New Year’s Six Bowl games since 2015, and he has a 10-5 record in those games. His 15 NY6 bowl games participated in since 2015 are more than programs like Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban’s replacement may already be in order, according to a CBS Sports insider
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, a college football insider, revealed in a Heavy article that Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning would be one of the main candidates to replace Saban if he were to retire.
“In fact, Alabama being Alabama, speculation has spread to include who might replace Saban,” Dodd detailed in a December 31, 2023 story titled “Why Alabama’s Nick Saban, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh could both move on after this College Football Playoff.” “The first call might have to go to Oregon’s Dan Lanning, who proved himself a skilled SEC recruiter and coordinator at Alabama (graduate assistant in 2015) and Georgia (assistant coach from 2018-21).”
Lanning has SEC experience with the Georgia Bulldogs, and he has proven to be able to run the helm with Oregon. Lanning was the winner of the Fiesta Bowl this year as he capped off back-to-back 10-win seasons. Lanning is worth a $45 million contract, according to CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee.
Dan Lanning is going to be coaching Alabama one day https://t.co/kem4Ds10tS
— Zachary Ross (@zross12) September 26, 2023
Weekly Power Rankings of Who I want to replace Nick Saban as Head Coach at Alabama as of 9/27/2023
1. Dan Lanning
2. Deion Sanders
3. Steve Sarkisian
4. Kalen DeBoer
5. Kristen Saban pic.twitter.com/q7odh0Gcxk— Chris Marler (@VernFunquist) September 27, 2023
While Saban’s retirement rumors have been dispelled by players, Lanning just finished his second year of a six-year contract. If he were to be the next head coach for Alabama, he can wait out Saban’s retirement with the Ducks.
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