Alabama Football: Talk from Tide Coordinators reveal difference

Alabama football Offensive and Defensive Coordinators speak with the media only twice per season. Sunday’s media sessions revealed clear differences in the two men.

Alabama football Coordinators are largely shielded from media scrutiny by Crimson Tide head coach, Nick Saban. Two media question and answer periods are scheduled each season. The first is at the beginning of fall camp. The second and last is prior to the last game of the post-season.

Steve Sarkisian and Pete Golding had their second 2019 season sessions on Sunday. Both coaches were joined by a top Crimson Tide player. Wide receiver Devonta Smith was with Sarkisian. Xavier McKinney accompanied Golding.

Alabama football fans dissect every word spoken by the Coordinators. Conclusions are even drawn about what the Coordinators do not say. How the media sessions are rated by fans has a direct corelation to how well each guy’s side of the ball has performed. Fan opinions are more often reinforced than changed.

Given a season of struggle by the Alabama football defense, Pete Golding had a tougher task than Steve Sarkisian. Sark did not have a burden requiring an apology. Golding did. He needed to accept the fact his defense underperformed to Alabama Crimson Tide standards. He needed to not make too many excuses – as in injuries and youth. He needed to acknowledge any personal mistakes.

The complete videos are included below. Alabama football fans should view themselves and draw their own conclusions. For readers not having time to watch the videos, I can report Pete Golding did address each of the three deficiencies referenced above. Steve Sarkisian was positive about his players and their success. He was particularly complimentary of Tua as a person.

What most interests me are the differences in the two men. Differences so great as to make almost any comparison invalid. Let’s consider those career differences before both men gained their current positions in Tuscaloosa.

Steve Sarkisian

• 45 years old
• Outstanding college playing career as BYU quarterback
• College coaching assistant at USC (twice), working with Norm Chow and Pete Carroll
• NFL Quarterback coach for the Oakland Raiders
• Offensive Coordinator at USC and the Atlanta Falcons
• Head Coach at Washington and USC
• Had Tua Tagovailoa as QB and the best wide receiver group in the history of college football

Pete Golding

• 35 years old
• Outstanding Division II safety at Delta State
• From 2007-2013 assistant coach at Tusculum College, Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana
• Defensive Coordinator five seasons at Tusculum, Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana
• Defensive backs coach two seasons at Southern Mississippi
• Defensive Coordinator two seasons at Texas-San Antonio
• Co-Defensive Coordinator and ILB coach one season (2018) at Alabama
• Lost two starting inside linebackers to season-ending injuries. Replacements were true freshmen.

Given the 2019 season resources, it could be argued many coaches could have matched Sarkisian’s excellent performance. How many could have exceeded what Golding accomplished?

The purpose of this post was not to lobby for or against the retention of Golding as Defensive Coordinator. Nick Saban will make the correct decision.

The Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the Michigan Wolverines shortly after noon on Wednesday in Vrbo Citrus Bowl.