<p>Just saw this on the news - very shocking. I wonder what the backstory is. He’s only in his 40s.</p>
<p>Last month, I thought he’d go to Notre Dame, but that job went to someone else.</p>
<p>Remember he was hospitalized after the Alabama game. Said it was “dehydration,” although I’d also heard chest pain. All related?</p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Yes, I think it is related.</p>
<p>He said that he’s ignored his health for years, but now must pay attention to some health issues.</p>
<p>So, I’m guessing some kind of heart issues.</p>
<p>There will be a press conference tomorrow. This will really hurt Florida’s recruiting for this year.</p>
<p>I wonder why he didn’t wait until AFTER the Sugar Bowl.</p>
<p>UF’s recruiting won’t drop much. They’re not going to hire a no name coach. They have plenty of talented athletes. They’ll still be good next year.</p>
<p>That’s probably true that they won’t hire a no-name coach. I wonder who they will hire that is a big name? </p>
<p>(Nick - you don’t like Florida, you don’t like Florida, you don’t like Florida… lol )</p>
<p>Saban has no reason to leave. UF would be a big step down.</p>
<p>lol…</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I think Miss Terry (his wife) would kill him.</p>
<p>Early talk is that his replacement is going to be one of his coordinators that left within the past 2 years, Mullen or Strong. Mullen was on Sportscenter, and he did not flat out deny interest in the job, but he did kind of leave the door open. </p>
<p>It will be interesting though.</p>
<p>
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<p>How so? I agree, it might be a step down, but not a big step down. UF still has a ton of athletes and like you said a lot of good players and will still be easy to recruit there.
I see it more as a lateral move. Even though 'Bama gave UF a pretty good beating a few weeks back, it means almost nothing for next year in todays SEC.</p>
<p>What does this have to do with the University of Alabama? There’s a University of Florida forum for this.</p>
<p>Florida has no tradition when compared to Alabama. There are a few jobs you never leave: Alabama, ND, Ohio St, Michigan, and USC. Florida isn’t a “prestigious” place to coach. Meyer had a deal with UF that he could leave for Michigan, Ohio St., and Notre Dane at any time without penalty. Saban is getting better recruits and he is going to win the National Championship this year. He wouldn’t leave ever. Even if Florida paid him 10 mil a year, which they can’t afford, he probably wouldn’t leave. It definitely isn’t a lateral move. All of this doesn’t even come from an Alabama fan.</p>
<p>I think the “big step down” would be that Saban has spent the last few years hand-picking his players that are now rising to the top. When a new coach arrives, he’s stuck with the previous coach’s picks. Even if those were “great picks,” there can be some “obedience” issues. Saban had that problem with Upchurch (who finally learned the Saban way -lol), Terry Grant, and a few others. </p>
<p>As of next year, Saban will essentially have a team of his picks, if he went to Florida, he’d be back to Fall 2007 (7-6 season).</p>
<p>*What does this have to do with the University of Alabama? There’s a University of Florida forum for this. *</p>
<p>This has a lot to do with Alabama. And, there’s no reason to go to Florida’s forum where they’re just plain upset. We’re discussing this from Alabama’s standpoint. This makes back-to-back SEC Championships a more real possibility.</p>
<p>At this point, Alabama fans would sell their children to keep Nick Saban at Alabama. Nick Saban is not going anywhere for a very long time!</p>
<p>LOL…</p>
<p>I imagine that Alabama is thinking of boosting his salary and extending his contract until he’s Joe Pa’s age. I know that these coaches get some kind of bonuses for winning championships, bowl games, etc. But, I don’t know what they get.</p>
<p>I don’t think any of us will be surprised if he gets a big salary boost, esp if he wins the championship. And, honestly, I think he would be deserving of it-unlike some coaches whose contracts have been extended with big bonuses, etc. only to have to be bought out a few years later because of lack of performance! IMO, Nick Saban is the best coach in the country right now!!</p>
<p>*Nick Saban is the best coach in the country right now!! *</p>
<p>I think so, too. Altho, as a USC fan from childhood, I have to say that Pete Carroll is up there, too (although this year was an off year due to having a freshman quarterback).</p>
<p>So, now it sounds like Meyer has changed his mind and will take a leave.</p>
<p>He expects to be back by the start of next year. This turns from some serious “I’m retiring because of my health” to “I’ll be back next summer.” He just wants attention.</p>
<p>I didn’t think the off-season was stressful. I thought it was the football season that was. Yet, he’s taking the spring and summer off?</p>
<p>He will be recruiting and preparing for much of that summer.</p>
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</p>
<p>You sound like a crazy delusional Domer who talks about the Four Horseman like they were around last year. And I say that with affection, as a Notre Dame fan :). </p>
<p>Yes, I thought tradition would be one of the only reasons (and the current state of each program, though not much difference here). But, kids who are 17-18 don’t really care about it. Sure, some talk about,but a lot don’t even care or understand it. This matters for recruiting. Try telling some stud H.S. linebacker that 30 years ago, your Defense was traditionally the nastiest in the country. He won’t care, this generation only cares about the now, and they have good reason to. Though if a team like Michigan or Alabama is in the pits it maybe easier to turn them around than say Florida, but the gap is getting smaller and smaller. </p>
<p>Florida is a top 10 CFB program now and will stay somewhere up there IMO, as long as Urban stays there. Even his replacement could do a pretty damn good job with the foundation in place there, and Florida is a recruiting hotbed.</p>
<p>But I agree with you, it would be step down, not a huge one though, but apparently it is not a problem anymore.</p>