re: Blueprint for Coach O if retained.

Not when your current employer yells at you like you're a child on national TV.

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Leaving currently the best program in college football to coach the same position for any other team would be a downgrade.

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Precisely. I despise Bama, but god damn, i am not foolish enough to try and say LSU is currently on the same level as Bama.

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Leaving currently the best program in college football to coach the same position for any other team would be a downgrade.

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I disagree. I'm not saying he's coming or not, but it isn't as simple as I'm the OC for the best program in the nation so any other OC position is a downgrade. Changing jobs is rarely that black and white.

- Alabama is Saban's team and people correctly view their success in a large part to be because of Saban's influence and the defense. The effect of this is that it minimizes the impact that Kiffin has on the success of the team. He may feel that coming to another school where his performance can be viewed as more instrumental to the success of the program better for his chances to secure another head coaching gig at a prestigious university.
- Saban can't be easy to work with and there have been some very visible signs of tension between the two. This is not a natural fit for either of them. The fact that it is working doesn't make it easy.
- Money. Yes Alabama can and will pay with anyone when they feel the candidate is worth it, but because of point 1 Alabama may not feel it is worth it to match an offer. Salaries are about ROI, and if Alabama feels it can get the same results with a different OC it won't get into a bidding war.
- On talent both teams are very similar. There aren't many schools in the nation that can say their talent is in the same class as Alabama's, but LSU can. Most season's I'd give the edge to Alabama, but it's usually close and some seasons like this one I think LSU is more talented.

What all of this essentially boils down to is that Kiffin is in Head Coaching Rehab. If he expects to lead a top level program again, he can either prove his capabilities at another location - one where his contributions are highlighted more and his arse chewings less - or he can coach a smaller program and work his way back up. I view it unlikely that he'd make a move directly from OC at Alabama to HC at top level program given his history. Had he never been a head coach before this would likely be different.

A move to LSU would also give him the opportunity to show that his offense could succeed against a Saban defense (assuming it did). If I'm hiring an offensive minded coach, and there is one available that has shown an ability to at least hold it's own against what is year in and year out the best defense in the nation he's probably at the top of my list. You don't get that opportunity at Alabama because you don't get the opportunity to play against a Nick Saban team.