re: Clearing up a couple of things on Steele

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Mickey GoldmillClearing up a couple of things on SteeleDemoted? Lets see. 2008 Alabama Salaries: Offensive line coach Joe Pendry ($350,000), defensive head coach Steele ($350,000), defensive coordinator Smart ($275,000), running backs coach Burton Burns ($220,000), outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson ($210,000), defensive line coach Bo Davis ($190,000), and receivers coach Curt Cignetti ($170,000). LINK quote:Saban also announced Tuesday that Steele was promoted to associate head coach/head defensive coach and Smart was promoted to defensive coordinator. Alabama ranked 27th nationally last season in scoring defense (22.0 ppg) and 31st nationally in total defense (345.5 ypg). Three members of the Crimson Tide defense earned first team All-SEC honors (Wallace Gilberry, Rashad Johnson and Simeon Castille) while two other defenders were named to the All-SEC Freshmen team (Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson). “Kevin’s an outstanding coach and an outstanding recruiter,” said Saban. “He has become a right hand man for me. He’s certainly a guy who would make a fantastic head coach. Of all the assistant coaches I’ve had, Kevin’s as fine as any of them. “Kirby had the opportunity to go someplace else as a defensive coordinator,” said Saban. “We felt it was imperative and very important to keep these two guys together. They had worked very well together in the past. They worked very well last year in helping our defense improve as the year went on. I’m very happy and pleased to have both of those guys on the staff. They both make a strong contribution, they both have tremendous leadership qualities, and they are both very, very good recruiters.” So again, he was not demoted. If anything, Smart was only promoted to keep him from leaving.

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