re: Paul Finebaum on Sportscenter: Alabama officials increasingly nervous

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What does Bama have to be nervous about? So what if he leaves? Talk about leaving the cupboard overflowing. Most coaches picking up the reigns of this team as currently constructed would succeed.

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True - but succeeding vs. dominating is the difference. Also, the job will have a ton of pressure for anyone trying to succeed him as the head coach.

I didn't think he was going anywhere. He's got great incoming recruits and has had great success. He needs to find an answer at QB though with AJ departing. But at this point, it seems like it might be a 50/50 decision.

If Texas is throwing the world at him, he might be considering it as his last stop on the national chamipionship trifecta legacy tour. Plus, it would probably be a hell of a lot easier to make it into the 4-team playoff system in the Big 12.

But I'd still be somewhat surprised if he left just because I think he loves the passion people have for football in the SEC. But it wouldn't shock me at all.

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Well - it's not "nothing" - they do see the move as a potential gain - just the LHN by itself will instantly spike in value with the change. However, as I tried to, patiently, explain to the Bama fans (the reasonable ones who would at least listen) - Texas is a super rich state - for every Jim Bernhard or Pennington family that Louisiana has, Texas has a subdivision of those people. Fully 10% of the Forbes 400 has residence in Texas. So, while $200 million is not "nothing" it is certainly easier to shoulder if you spread that around to several hundred well-heeled billionaires and the much larger group of "high 8 and 9 figure" net worth people, of which Texas has thousands. It's a money juggernaut. Only California and New York have anything like that money, and it is too spread out, too diffuse and certainly doesn't care about football. The perfect storm.

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Solid post.

The only difference or disagreement I might have is from an investment standpoint. In other words, these men did not get rich by being stupid or being from stupid families. As such, when they invest money, they expect monetary return. While there is no doubt Saban at UT would mean money in the pockets of the school, I don't see how this man or men get their $40m back...unless winning a few national titles is "good enough" return on investment.

Guys they are fronting the money.

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See how that works?

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I see

It was said several time Texas has all the money it wants. The Bama people never understood this. I have clients there and do a lot of business in Houston. They donate whole wings to hospitals, schools, etc. There are subdivisions in Houston and I am sure Dallas, Austin, San Antonio that the property taxes each year are more than the average salary in Louisiana, Bama and several other states.

They make Louisiana and Alabama look poor, like they are.

I have been saying if Texas wanted to make the offer larger than public, they just have to get together 10 oil guys and put Saban in 10 oil deals as a carried working interest (he doesn't pay, The expenses come out of the income from the well. This is done a lot in oil deals) for 1 or 2 % and he could make $1million off each deal. That's $10million per year. It continues each year while there is production. Do that 5 times and figure the amount he would make.

Also think about how much Saban can make doing TV ads in Dallas and Houston, 2 of the top 8 markets in the US, Not to mention Austin and San Antonio.

Remember when Benson bought the Saints, the money was loaned to him by a lady from San Antonio who became his partner. He bought her out a few years back,

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You mean like they did to us when Bama hired Saban?

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Yes. However, in fairness to Alabama fans at the time we were being destroyed by rival fans being called delusional idiots for even daring to think Saban would give us the time of day. We were catching hell from everyone and being made fun of publically during that coaching search especially by LSU fans. When he did end up at Alabama, the Alabama reaction was understandable given the circumstances.

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No one likes having their faces rubbed in it with such fervor especially while it's happening.


You mean like they did to us when Bama hired Saban?

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Exactly.

The Bammers rubbed LSU's nose in it when they hired Saban. They are insufferable pieces of shite and I hope that program crashes and burns.


/rant

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It was said several time Texas has all the money it wants. The Bama people never understood this.

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The "Bama people" do understand this.

The point Alabama people have been making is that Alabama could match any "reasonable public offer" that Texas made. The wildcard in this that I'm not sure many Alabama people understood is the millions in debt Saban got hoodwinked into from his LSU grad partner in deals in Baton Rouge and Houston. That wildcard is the difference in my opinion as Alabama rightfully isn't going to buy $25 million + in bad debt on top of a contract for Saban to coach another 4 years.

I wonder if Saban could actually be the head coach of both Alabama and Texas. now here me out on this. it would basically be CEO like position. he could have Smart be his main man on Point at Bama and have bobbie williams/nussmeyer on point at Texas to get things up and running. he could split time on campus at both schools during the week and watch video/film of practices at night while his wife hangs out with Mathew McConoughy and Lance Armstrong.

They could schedule the games to be early/late soe there would be no conflict. he could continue to use Paul Bryant Jrs jet to zoom to the late game immediately after the first game is over or in the 3rd quarter if it is a blowout.

this way he doesn't piss off anyone and he can maximize his earning potential and dominate two conferences.

not a complete crash...more of a slow burn