Is it Really the Time to Consider Firing CKD???

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Brooks should be a starter this week for example.

That kid wants it.

This.

 

[GboyBama]

Personally, when Saban quit, I thought about Coach Drink. He probably would have taken the job and seems very comfortable with the new parameters of the game. Also, his teams overperform, so that means he could really excel with our assets.

As a side benefit, he never loses a press conference.

The guy we have may end up being the next legend, but his charisma level is on par with Anthony Grant or Mike Shula. I can't help but wonder if that's part of the reason we never know which version of Alabama is going to show up.

 

[cdub55]

Personally, when Saban quit, I thought about Coach Drink. He probably would have taken the job and seems very comfortable with the new parameters of the game. Also, his teams overperform, so that means he could really excel with our assets.

As a side benefit, he never loses a press conference.

The guy we have may end up being the next legend, but his charisma level is on par with Anthony Grant or Mike Shula. I can't help but wonder if that's part of the reason we never know which version of Alabama is going to show up.

I like Drink and he definitely has passion and doesn't back down. His resume to this point doesn't stack up in terms of getting a job like Alabama. With that being said, Byrne has shown that he isn't afraid to go outside the box with his hires, ie CNO with basketball.

Would I like to see CKD be more "passionate" and energetic? Absolutely. Do I think that passion and energy are the top priorities we need to see from a head coach at Alabama? Absolutely not. To hire someone just because the last guy was lacking it would be a knee jerk reaction. Alabama is a national brand and although we have deficiencies in some areas, particularly NIL, we still are at the top of the top in many other areas.

One thing that hasn't been discussed that could weigh in our favor in terms of holding on to CKD for the next few years, aside from lowering the buyout, is it will give the NCAA time to set its regulations and infrastructure for how NIL will go within its organization. Whoever is running the show needs to have a great grasp and plan for how we are going to leverage what we do have to maximize and take advantage of the system that is put into place. Right now it looks like CKD and staff are doing a great job of constructing a roster that should put us in position to compete at the highest level. The issue's most of us have are that we are not playing consistently to our potential based on the roster that we have.

Last week we obviously looked the part. The issue I have, aside from many of ULM's staff being friends of mine, is we got embarrassed by a formidable opponent and then turned to an old lady walking up the stairs with a cane and pushed her down the stairs. If this is a team that does that this week and against Georgia then I have no issue with it. If this was a one week wake up and then we go back to what we saw against FSU then it was nothing more than bullying. Time will tell...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Personally, when Saban quit, I thought about Coach Drink. He probably would have taken the job and seems very comfortable with the new parameters of the game. Also, his teams overperform, so that means he could really excel with our assets.

As a side benefit, he never loses a press conference.

The guy we have may end up being the next legend, but his charisma level is on par with Anthony Grant or Mike Shula. I can't help but wonder if that's part of the reason we never know which version of Alabama is going to show up.

I think he may be a coach who is best suited for a program like Missouri. It's always assumed that if a coach had more talent, he'd do a lot better. But unfortunately, it just isn't that black and white. Many times, to get better talent, a coach has to go to a bigger program where the pressures and expectations are higher and he becomes the hunted rather than the hunter. There is such a thing as coaches succeeding more as an underdog rather than when they are supposed to win. It's an entirely different animal.

It's what I'm trying to figure out about our current coach, if he's possibly one of those types of coaches.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I think he may be a coach who is best suited for a program like Missouri. It's always assumed that if a coach had more talent, he'd do a lot better. But unfortunately, it just isn't that black and white. Many times, to get better talent, a coach has to go to a bigger program where the pressures and expectations are higher and he becomes the hunted rather than the hunter. There is such a thing as coaches succeeding more as an underdog rather than when they are supposed to win. It's an entirely different animal.

It's what I'm trying to figure out about our current coach, if he's possibly one of those types of coaches.

I dunno, NIL and how it totally skews attitudes and "Teamwork" as we have always known it makes it really difficult for any coach.

I hate the NFL for all the greed...and now it's ruining CFB.

 

[cdub55]

I dunno, NIL and how it totally skews attitudes and "Teamwork" as we have always known it makes it really difficult for any coach.

I hate the NFL for all the greed...and now it's ruining CFB.

NIL may ruin the experience for some fans but at the end of the day EVERY COLLEGE TEAM IS DEALING WITH IT. I expect Alabama to be the best of the most greedy teams in the country. I expect our greedy players to beat UT's greedy players. I expect our prima donna players to beat UGA's prima donna players..

 

[GboyBama]

I think he may be a coach who is best suited for a program like Missouri.

It's what I'm trying to figure out about our current coach, if he's possibly one of those types of coaches.

Yeah, I get that. It's just at least Drink has shown he can keep his head above water in the SEC. DeBoer was more of an unknown in that respect and whether he can adapt is still very much in doubt. I know which one I'd be more confident in today, given the available information.

As far as the coaching search at the time, any coach was going to be a risk, given that they were following the GOAT. Also, Byrne was forced to scramble for whoever was available and would sign quickly. We weren't in the running for any coaches I can think of who are current title contenders either. There was going to be a degree of settling for someone baked into the process IMO.

 

[81usaf92]

All these “Dabo should have gotten a call” and “Dabo would’ve been better prepared for the SEC” takes seen on this thread and multiple threads probably should be put to rest. I mean this is your typical Dabo season with one exception… they are losing games that they usually eke out. Dabo teams have notoriously played down to competition but their talent advantage usually wins at the end of the game.

Bottom line… had we hired Dabo we would have just as many problems if not more.

 

[bamaga]

All these “Dabo should have gotten a call” and “Dabo would’ve been better prepared for the SEC” takes seen on this thread and multiple threads probably should be put to rest. I mean this is your typical Dabo season with one exception… they are losing games that they usually eke out. Dabo teams have notoriously played down to competition but their talent advantage usually wins at the end of the game.

Bottom line… had we hired Dabo we would have just as many problems if not more.

Dabo learned from his college coach . in the CGS years, it seemed we were never ahead of Southern Miss or Middle Tennessee enough to put in the second and third team to build depth. Eeking out 17-9 wins and such .

Of course, winning close games to inferior opponents was better than what followed the CGS era . Losing to Northern Illinois or Central Florida And such .

 

[bamaga]

I dunno, NIL and how it totally skews attitudes and "Teamwork" as we have always known it makes it really difficult for any coach.

I hate the NFL for all the greed...and now it's ruining CFB.

I’m warming to the NFL. Replace greed with business and you have the modern NFL. The players union and the owners realize all the franchises have to be competitive for the betterment of the game, and the business model . Oh sure, there are a few holdouts from time to time, but it’s ok as well. These players have a marketable skill with a finite shelf life, they get all they can while they can in the structure and framework of the CBA . It’s the cost of doing business. The result though is no passion. No true love of the game, it’s all business. that is what college football is losing, that was what made college football special.

 

[CB4]

I think we’ll learn a lot on Saturday night. Truthfully my hopes were not bolstered by watching Wisconsin in its game with Maryland. That Jeff Grimes offense couldn’t score in a house of ill repute with fist full of $100 bills. Fickell was a complete idiot to bring in Longo as an OC and recruit to his system. Nothing they do fits the personnel.

I fully expect Kirby to play big boy football Saturday night. He wants to physically dominate us at the LOS. Nothing fancy.

That is still my question about about CKD. Does he truly understand in this conference each week you must be able to simply whip the other guy at the LOS. And can he recruit and develop the guys needed to do that?

 

[BhamToTexas]

I’m warming to the NFL. Replace greed with business and you have the modern NFL. The players union and the owners realize all the franchises have to be competitive for the betterment of the game, and the business model . Oh sure, there are a few holdouts from time to time, but it’s ok as well. These players have a marketable skill with a finite shelf life, they get all they can while they can in the structure and framework of the CBA . It’s the cost of doing business. The result though is no passion. No true love of the game, it’s all business. that is what college football is losing, that was what made college football special.

The NFL is just a better product right now.

 

[MikeInBama]

Vandy will be undefeated after next weekend and we will likely be 2-2. 2025 is weird.

 

[bamamc1]

NIL may ruin the experience for some fans but at the end of the day EVERY COLLEGE TEAM IS DEALING WITH IT. I expect Alabama to be the best of the most greedy teams in the country. I expect our greedy players to beat UT's greedy players. I expect our prima donna players to beat UGA's prima donna players..

This is one of the best takes on NIL I’ve ever read. All players are getting paid now. It’s our staff’s job to have them ready. RTR

 

[Windsortide]

Evaluate him at the conclusion of this season.

 

[CajunCrimson]

One thing that I’ve noticed with all professional sports, and we can add in college football now. None of them, target children in their communications, messaging, advertising.

When I was young, pro sports made a strong effort to attract children to their sports. Whether it was sports cards, shoes, apparel, product endorsements, food, etc.

children used to have heroes. Now, it’s the adults who do. Instead of cutting out baseball cards from the bottom of my twinkies box, now adults pay $10/pack for 5 cards of people they only know from their eBay hot list.

not sure how this connects to CKD or Dabo. But I think I feel the urge to share, because maybe I’m reaching the “I don’t care who the coach is stage”. We got the last great one.

So maybe I’m trying to just find one more reason to step away from college football. I am not leaving it. Maybe it’s left me.

now, I’m going to eat a little Debbie oatmeal pie, and think about the past

 

[BamaFan6462]

Evaluate him at the conclusion of this season.

This. Continuity has been one of his issues. The last two games have absolutely shown improvement, but he has an opportunity now to prove to the fans that he can maintain the team’s focus and intensity. The next few weeks have the potential to expose any remaining problems.

 

[teamplayer]

Vandy will be undefeated after next weekend and we will likely be 2-2. 2025 is weird.

Frankly, Vandy can probably run it down our throats, so we may very well be 2-3 after that game. Yeah, it's weird.

 

[GrayTide]

Not yet. With UGA, Vandy, Mizzou, Tennessee, LSU, USCe, Oklahoma, and Auburn still to play anything can happen. Unless the OL and DL are fixed the outcome of those games may not be good.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Vandy will be undefeated after next weekend and we will likely be 2-2. 2025 is weird.

end of the season we could have Vandy and Georgia Tech in the playoffs