re: IF Saban bolts to Texas, who are the top candidates to replace him at Bama?

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Definitely not Kirby Smart if they have a clue. The last two times Bama hired a first-time head coach, it was a disaster (Dubose and Shula). It should be a proven head coach like a Briles or Patterson or Mendenhall or Gary Anderson. Also, the timing of it would be awful since the best coach on the market took the Washington job last week.

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I think Patterson is the guy you want to bring in but it's going to be an uphill fight keeping the recruiting class together. This is why some coaches might pass on Alabama. Smart might be the best option to keep the class together and move post Saban. If he fails I think that's when you come in with the bigger name. IDK it's still a great job but picking up the pieces and keeping them together is going to be a chore.