Alabama Football: Tide could lose all offensive assistants and three top recruiters

Alabama Football: It is possible all offensive assistants and the Tide’s three top recruiters could be leaving Nick Saban’s staff.

Two days ago, we advised Alabama football fans to not worry about assistant coach continuity because Nick Saban is the GOAT. Please be advised, a retraction may be needed. Much has changed since then and the fluid situation could turn worrisome.

A few days ago, Nick Saban said,

"I can’t make any predictions about our staff. … I don’t know what other opportunities will be out there for our coaches, so we’ll just have to wait and see."

The ‘wait and see’ period rapidly faded from the Alabama Football rearview mirror. A sudden exodus of Crimson Tide coaches should not be shocking, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Alabama Crimson Tide offense broke records in 2018 and again in 2019. In Points-per-game; Total Yards-per-game and Passing Yards-per-game, the 2020 Alabama football offense surpassed 2018 and 2019.

Before the 2021 Playoffs began, Dennis Dodd explained it well.

"In Year 14 of the Nick Saban era, achievement has reached the point of ridiculousness. The level of excellence at Alabama is now to the point where it must be compared to itself."

Of course, every FBS college football program in the nation wanted some of what Nick Saban had. The Texas Longhorns led the raid on Saban assistants. Marshall appears in line to be next. Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood and Jeff Banks to Texas was disappointing but the loss of two of the former Crimson Tide coaches was predictable. Though not yet official, Charles Huff, snatched up to become Marshall’s new Head Coach makes sense for Huff and the Thundering Herd.

Assistants, even very good ones, can be replaced. The also not official, the hiring of Bill O’Brien to replace Sark is better than a solid hire. O’Brien will find a good offensive line coach from all his contacts. Quality guys to coach running backs, tight ends and special teams will compete to be chosen by Nick Saban.

So far, the transition seems manageable, with no major cause for concern. There is, however, a what-if. What if Charles Huff hires Holman Wiggins to be his Offensive Coordinator and Karl Scott to be his Defensive Coordinator? First, the entire 2020 Alabama football offensive staff would be gone. Perhaps worse, the top three recruiters of the 2021 signing class would exit Tuscaloosa.

Nick Saban sustained the loss of five assistants after the 2017 season and seven more after the 2018 season. The 2018 and 2019 seasons ended with disappointment, but as the 2020 National Championship showed, the disappointment was temporary.

Losing assistants is not a reason for panic. Losing three of the top five recruiters in the nation is more serious. That kind of attrition can negatively impact recruiting for a couple of cycles. Currently, Charles Huff is the No. 1 recruiter and Karl Scott is No. 2.

Trusting Nick Saban is never a mistake. But even for college football’s GOAT, this is a trying time. Fortunately, Nick is still a formidable recruiter.