I was listening to the radio and they were talking about the turnover in the NFL and how the players and the locker room culture have changed so dramatically over the last 10-15 years that the younger coaches have an approach that the older coaches just can't match in terms of their ability to relate to the players.
The new generation of players doesn't want or respond to the old chewing nails and grabbing facemask approach, and the younger coaches (who are also largely technocratic nerds in a lot of ways) understand this and coach in a way that is palatable to players.
Idk if that's the case with college, but it probably is considering that the majority of NFL players came up in the last decade.
I don't think the game has passed Saban by, but the culture probably has. I know he has a really great relationship with players, but maybe that's something that has changed to the point that he's no longer willing to deal with it.
Who knows.
I just hope he and his family are healthy and enjoy a long, happy retirement.