Alabama Football returned to the practice field on Monday. Across the state, Auburn was in damage-control mode as they continue searching for a head coach.
Monday was business as usual for Alabama Football. Unfortunately for the Auburn Tigers, it was business as usual as well. While the Alabama Crimson Tide went to work on the Hank Crisp indoor field, Auburn floundered. The Tigers’ power-brokers have much experience with floundering going back to ‘Jetgate’ and Bobby Petrino.
It is amazing how the Aubies steadfastly repeat the same mistakes and never learn from them. Embarrassment alone should be enough to make them change. Somehow they don’t get it. They want a potential, Saban-like head coach to allow them to run the football program. Yet, they are willing to accept a lesser coach, as long as they can dictate football staff hires.
The number of times they have been rejected over the last three days is not known. At the very least, Steve Sarkisian, Billy Napier and UAB’s Bill Clark told them no. It is hard to imagine a coaching search being more mishandled.
Meanwhile in Tuscaloosa work began on the College Football Playoff semi-final against Notre Dame. Permanent Captains for the 2020 team were announced on Sunday. They are Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Alex Leatherwood and Landon Dickerson.
The Alabama football team will practice again on Tuesday and Wednesday before taking a break for Christmas. After a three-day break, the Crimson Tide will return to work on Sunday. On Selection Sunday, Saban discussed the holiday break.
"I don’t have the heart to tell the players they can’t go home for Christmas."
It worked for the Crimson Tide over Thanksgiving. Hopefully, it will again. The Fighting Irish announced their team will remain in South Bend for Christmas.
Speaking of Notre Dame, Brain Kelly reversed course on earlier comments made about Ohio State and the Playoffs. On Sunday, while lobbying for the Irish to make the final four, Kelly said if only coaches were on the committee, teams playing fewer games would be discounted. Obviously, he was talking about Ohio State. When details of the latest USA Today Coaches Poll were released, the Buckeyes were No. 3. It was later learned Kelly voted them No. 4; Nick Saban voted them No. 5; Kirby Smart voted them No. 6 and Dabo Swinney voted Ohio State No.11.
Kelly and Fighting Irish fans want to believe the Notre Dame of 2020 in no way resembles the Irish of 2012. Speaking about the difference, Kelly said,
"overall the depth of the roster, the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball and, quite frankly, just the size and physicality on both the offensive and defensive line is a probably the biggest departure from 2012"
So far, college football oddsmakers appear to disagree with Kelly. The Alabama Crimson Tide is currently a 19.5 point favorite.
When we wrote yesterday about Steve Sarkisian staying in Tuscaloosa, we had heard nothing about terms of a contract extension. Later, there were rumors his new salary will be $3.5M. If that number is correct, the Crimson Tide got a bargain.