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Alabama Football New Offensive Coordinator: 10 Names; 4 Maybes; 6 No-Way

By Ronald Evans

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban looks on as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian stands in the background during warm ups prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban looks on as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian stands in the background during warm ups prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury paces the sidelines against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury paces the sidelines against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

This group of coaches WILL NOT be hired as Alabama Offensive Coordinator

Lincoln Riley, Sonny Cumbie, Sonny Dykes, Phil Longo, Art Briles, Kendal Briles – or anyone named Briles for that matter.

Quite a list of high-powered offensive coaches that will not be considered for one reason. Well, for two of them, there are multiple reasons.

The one thing they all share that disqualifies them for Alabama Offensive Coordinator – two words, Air Raid.

They are all disciples of the Air-Raid school of offensive football. Not familiar with the Air-Raid? Here is a brief history:

The “Air Raid” was popularized by Lavell Edwards at BYU.  In the mid-1970’s  Edwards started using an old Sid Gillman playbook so BYU could stretch the field vertically, horizontally and unpredictably.

Sid Gillman started his coaching career in 1938 and ended it after the 1974 season.  Gillman shaped an early NFL propensity to throw often and labeled his offensive style “feast or famine”.

Today’s “Air-Raid”, more than anything, is the old “feast or famine” offense of Sid Gillman. The coaches that followed and embraced this style of wide-open football include Edwards, Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, Dana Holgorsen, Kliff Kingsbury, Art Briles and Kendal, Sonny Dykes, Sonny Cumbie, Phil Longo, Lincoln Riley, among others.

Even without any inside information from Miss Terry, we can be pretty sure the thought of an Air-Raid coach on the staff at Alabama would give Nick Saban nightmares.

Next: Was Sark the Dumpee?

Stay tuned as the saga of Alabama’s next Offensive Coordinator continues.

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