Alabama Football coach Nick Saban is probably one more, impact, transfer addition away from a college football explosion. On Sunday it was learned a key wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs has left the National Champions to play for the Crimson Tide.
A goodly number of Georgia fans are beside themselves. Others across the wide terrain of college football are not far behind.
Alabama football fans chuckle in response, reminding all the agitated complainers that Nick Saban warned you. Back in 2018, Saban questioned if the SEC wanted the equivalence of free agency to be allowed for SEC transfers. Five months later, the response to Saban’s question was the creation of the Transfer Portal.
Alabama Football has lost a bunch of players through the Portal since then. Nick Saban has not been pleased by every exit. Instead of complaining how the new rule was hurting the game of college football, Nick Saban does what he always does. He went to work at mastering the new challenge.
The tweet below motivated an elaboration.
If I’ve learned anything over the last few years it’s that if Nick Saban brings up a CFB topic and asks “Is this what we want CFB to become?”
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) December 16, 2021
You better watch out.
Because he’s going to adjust and figure it out pretty quick.
Up tempo offenses
Transfer portal
NIL rules
The elaboration, written a month ago, was,
"As college football has evolved, Saban keeps asking everyone else, is this what is wanted. He already knows what he wants. He seems to also know in advance, the game will change in ways he would not choose. But instead of dwelling on how much he disdains the changes, he goes to work. To assure continued success he re-works or tweaks his plan, and moves, always forward."
Alabama Football winning the Portal
By any sound measurement, moving forward through college football’s current free agency has been a bonanza for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Saban is very selective in choosing transfer players. He can afford to be in a way no other coach can. He looks for quality rather than quantity, choosing players he believes can make immediate, major impacts.
He has done it again this offseason, so far adding likely starters Eli Ricks (LSU cornerback), Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech running back) and Jermaine Burton (Georgia wide receiver). Eleven exiting Alabama football players have found new teams. In every case, they have a chance to make their new teams better. With no disrespect to any of the 11, their transfer decisions were best for them and the Crimson Tide.
Alabama Football has not been weakened by this cycle’s transfers. It has been made stronger – potentially much stronger. A college football world that often whines about, and begs for, parity, can’t keep up with Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Just imagine the next massive over-reaction if Nick Saban adds another transfer who ends up starting at tackle or tight end. Instead of arguing over Playoff expansion, attention will turn to how to stymie Nick Saban’s transfer system.
Kirby Smart has amassed enough talent to overcome the loss of Burton. What must most offend Georgia fans, is apparently Jermaine believes catching passes from a Heisman winner, is better than playing for a defending National Champion.