Transfer Portal 2023-2024...

[bamamc1]

I'd hesitate to call him a brat.

There's one version of events going around that Sayin was in fact pushed out. That might not be accurate, could be a rumor people keep reporting but I've seen the purported quotes and if true he's certainly not deserving of any negativity.

I can't find the origin of the quotes but it certainly isn't clear right now considering Alabama took in another QB before his departure.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that a 5* quarterback was forced out from Alabama having never attempting a pass in front of the staff in practice. I don’t know which buffoon on which sight floated this but it makes zero sense.

 

[Scobaman]

Had he stepped down prior to 2015, the same points could be made. Things slipped in those years also, and game prep, play calling, etc. had some head-scratcher moments.

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but we were fingernail length away from a championship in 2021 and this year. And the '24 recruiting class was #2 this year. So it's not like we were sliding off the face of the earth.

We were one injury away from a championship in 2021 and almost played in the Championship Game this year. In both years, we were in that position because we had Nick Saban on the sideline. Washington was in the Championship Game this year because they had CKD on the sideline.

 

[TexasBama]

lol

https://twitter.com/x/status/1748399503772631365

 

[PA Tide Fan]

This report suggests that Sayin's decision had more to do with Rees leaving than Saban and that he apparently didn't approve of Grubb as OC.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/sport...entering-transfer-portal-in-new-alabama-blow/

According to Sayin’s coach at Carlsbad (Calif.) High School, the QB was particularly close with Rees.


“He wants to see who they’re gonna hire, who’s gonna be the OC,” Thadd MacNeal told The Athletic before reports surfaced stating Grubb would fill that role. “Obviously, Alabama’s gonna get someone really, really good at that position.”

“(Sayin) was fine. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, panic.’ It’s kind of the nature of the business a little bit. He’s already started classes, so he’s in it. It’s a matter of his class, of who they’re gonna be able to keep. The coordinator’s gonna be important because he had a good relationship with coach (Tommy) Rees.”

 

[BamaMoon]

It's hard for me to see iit that way, I still see it as the center doesn't have the yips and Alabama wins a championship. That's just how I view it, but I guess your counter is a better staff and there's no center with the yips.

My standard applies to DeBoert as well. If the next three years are like the last three years I will be happy with the hire. I have been as cynical as anyone here, but if he puts Alabama in a championship game in the next three years, and goes to the playoff twice, championship or not I'll be very pleased.


I might not be able to figure out whether or not DeBoer recruited Sayin, but I did correctly interpret your sentiments the past few years, heh. I want that to be true, and may be I've just been around for the wrong period of Alabama football but I can't get the taste of Curry, DuBose, Franchione, and Shula (who got me my first timeout here) out of my mouth.

If DeBoer wins a championship at Alabama I volunteer to help build his statue though. I felt better about that possibility a few days ago than I do now, but I sincerely hope he has all the support and every opportunity to succeed.

You just keep uttering the same stuff over and over. You are letting an 18 year old millionaire/soon to be millionaire dictate your sensibilities.

Nobody was more excited about JS than me, but him going to the portal doesn't change anything about Deboer!

Gonna be frank, with your tendency to "quote yourself" a few years later to try to prove a point, it seems like you are hedging your bets to be able to say, "I told you so" but you are doing that despite the record of a HC who has won everywhere he's been and played for NCs on every level he's coached, including last year!!!

 

[Power Eye]

Hindsight being 20/20, if coach Saban wanted to go out on top and leave the program in a better position 2020 was his year with Sark taking over. It’s hard to argue his decision to return because he came dangerously close to 2 more national championships but the transfer portal looked different then and Sark would have held onto the players

Maybe, and perhaps Sark has great success at Texas over the next 5 years. I just know that 2023 was the first year Sark won double digit games as a HC. So I just don't view him in the same vein that a lot do.

 

[KrAzY3]

I find it extremely difficult to believe that a 5* quarterback was forced out from Alabama having never attempting a pass in front of the staff in practice. I don’t know which buffoon on which sight floated this but it makes zero sense.

If the quotes are accurate it's from multiple insiders.

I for one was uneasy when I saw Mack committed. I mean you have Sayin, what do you need another QB for?

So in the very least we know the staff was more concerned about the QB situation than others might have been.

In either case, calling him a brat for leaving after another QB was brought in seems a bit unwarranted.

it seems like you are hedging your bets to be able to say, "I told you so" but you are doing that despite the record of a HC

Quote me on this, I hope I'm wrong. Rub it in my face constantly if I'm wrong.

But I own up to the positions I take. I know my positions are unpopular enough that people would love to be able to come back and point out how off base I was, but where exactly was I so off base? I want to be off base here though, I want him to be a great recruiter.

For the record, never said he couldn't coach.

 

[Cruloc]

I'd hesitate to call him a brat.

There's one version of events going around that Sayin was in fact pushed out. That might not be accurate, could be a rumor people keep reporting but I've seen the purported quotes and if true he's certainly not deserving of any negativity.

I can't find the origin of the quotes but it certainly isn't clear right now considering Alabama took in another QB before his departure.

I hope he wasn't pushed out in favor of Mack. But what do I know....if this staff thinks Mack fits their system better I'm not one that can say anything to the contrary.

I guess we'll know at the end of spring....we'll have Milroe/Simpson/Lonegran/Mack competing.....at least 1 is transferring after spring.

 

[Sensation77]

I'll say this here, since it is the Portal thread. It is not directed at anybody here, but I'm expecting, if not hoping, a lot of these bandwagon fans hit the portal as well.

 

[MOAN]

The reason he did not offer is because he was not going to waste time on a player with whom he had no chance. He was a 1 season P5 HC who had no shot. Time is precious, he wasn't going to throw it out of the window.
The facts you outlined are correct. Your interpretation of those facts and your conclusion is almost surely wrong. The only reason I added "almost" is because we are all guessing but your conclusion makes no sense.

I have no doubt Sayin grew up watching and cheering for Bama and coach Saban. Doubt he was doing the same for Washington. How do we know Sayin didn't receive a letter or interest from Washington? He say so?

I want players who want to play for Bama and coach Deboer!!! The new qb commit wants to do just that and I am excited to have him join!!! Milroe wants to play for coach Deboer which is the most important player on the team returning, not any of the ones who have left and will continue to leave. I am looking forward to who we may get and what might happen this weekend!!! The qb is the most important player on any team and we look good for next season!!!

 

[Sensation77]

This report suggests that Sayin's decision had more to do with Rees leaving than Saban and that he apparently didn't approve of Grubb as OC.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/sport...entering-transfer-portal-in-new-alabama-blow/

In my opinion, Grubb & CKD will be considerable upgrade over Rees. If true, that is very short-sighted of Sayin.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

I remember those days very well.

Alabama was Bama when Bryant was here.....................true, the brand suffered due to the probations and collective mismanagement of the years after Stallings, but that Bama isnt what we have now. And there is not reason we should ever go back unless we get goofy again

... the secret is to move your knees, but not your ankles

This report suggests that Sayin's decision had more to do with Rees leaving than Saban and that he apparently didn't approve of Grubb as OC.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/sport...entering-transfer-portal-in-new-alabama-blow/

im guessing Saban didnt consult JS when trying to hire Grubb before Rees.

 

[RammerJammer14]

IMO, CKD is a far, far better choice than Kiffin. Just the record shows that: 2-19 vs ranked teams for Kiffin, 12-2 for DeBoer. And I doubt that Kiffin would have staunched the exit any more than DeBoer, at least not much. Only 9 have left. IMO, only Downs is irreplaceable, Amos might hurt, but the rest including Bond, are not much of a loss, if any. Of course, Sayin might be one, but not for the upcoming season. If it stops with little more attrition, I still think it will not be a rebuild and the team will likely have a decent chance of making the CFP next season.

Not replying to you, but to others regarding this being a portent of recruiting to come: CKD has lost 9 players and kept ~75. But IMO, this is not a good indication one way or another. UGA has lost 20 to the portal this year, causing many UGA fans to lament

But there are surely more losses to come, but at this moment, this roster is still sufficient to produce a good year.

I'm so grateful that Alabama/Byrne did not fall for the Kiffin fix.

I don’t think it is losing players that has people upset- it is losing a chunk of our starters and star players. These aren’t the 3rd string guys bailing. It’s the guys who would be all over the field next year, and our future Heisman level QB. I’m not saying we can’t win next year. But we are currently going from having all the pieces to compete to having to completely rebuild. It’s frustrating as all heck.

 

[Joefus]

I'd hesitate to call him a brat.

There's one version of events going around that Sayin was in fact pushed out. That might not be accurate, could be a rumor people keep reporting but I've seen the purported quotes and if true he's certainly not deserving of any negativity.

I can't find the origin of the quotes but it certainly isn't clear right now considering Alabama took in another QB before his departure.

Man just let it go. You’re like every 5th comment with the same post over and over and over

 

[rolltide7854]

I wonder if having to constantly replace coaches who left played a part into Coach Saban leaving. It was almost an annual thing; a school needs a head coach. First thought seemed to be who are the coordinators at Alabama? Teams need a coordinator, who does Alabama have as position coaches who could fill the position. Maybe the constant coaching changes over time caused a decline in the quality of coaching players were getting. It wasn't a talent issue as the recruiting never dropped off.

 

[Tideflyer]

Fluid situation, I checked his offer sheet on one of the recruiting sites. Someone countered with a Tweet that did appear to show an offer.

But could be kind of moot. Allegedly two industry insiders on 247 posted basically the same version of events, which is that the staff really did just prefer Mack over Sayin.

Waiting for a screenshot but I got the quotes from an Alabama fan so a weird thing for them to make up.

Well, it`s their ( DeBoer and the staff`s ) professional butts that are on the line. Of course, this is a profession in which you make bad decisions, get fired, and walk away with more than generational money.

 

[BamaInBham]

Honestly, if we had hired Kiffin, we would probably be saying right now "this is why we brought him here, to recruit and keep players, and he can't even do that. We should have just hired the better coach if this was the case." Because the reality is that anyone other than Smart, and maybe, and this is a big maybe, Sark we would have been dealing with the exact same thing. So let's just take our brief beating and move on to building this team back quickly.

Don't think Smart would have made a bit of a difference. IMO, he is a good HC, but one of the more overrated coaches in the country. He has no imagination, what is he going to do now that CNS is gone? Can't ape his adaptations or take advantage of CNS' player or assistant evaluations. (In fact, he's stuck with TRob now - he, he. Mike Bobo - sounds like a late-career CNS hire.) Kirby is as focused and ruthless as Saban, but that's where the comparison ends, IMO. He's gotten a good head start, but his free ride in terms of SEC schedule is now over.

Assuming CKD and staff can figure out a way to stop UGA's power running game, assuming that Bobo/Smart have enough sense to use it, CKD will out-coach CKS probably every time they play. UGA may win, but it will be because of overwhelming talent.

I can't believe the number of fans and analysts who have such high regard for Smart. He's a good coach, but hardly elite. The primary reason for his success is that he trips over 4 HS AAs when he walks out of his back door every morning. If your team can complete the forward pass and get a few stops, he's in trouble.

And Sarkisian is a very good OC, but just a meh HC - his first 8 years 7,6,6,6,4,4,7,5 losses. Then this year. But he will do well with Saban's old staff and the trillions he has at his disposal now that money means more than ever. CKD beat him in each of the last 2 years with less than half of the raw talent.

 

[denver]

im guessing Saban didnt consult JS when trying to hire Grubb before Rees.

And an 18 yo kid thinking he knows better than an OC who took a mediocre QB from the B10 to a National Championship! oh the days we are living in! lol

 

[PA Tide Fan]

im guessing Saban didnt consult JS when trying to hire Grubb before Rees.

Saban should have known that's how things are done these days.

 

[westide]

I'm not.

In fact, in retrospect, I wish he would have stepped down after the 2020 title. Anyone who has watched the way the last few teams played will tell you they were winning largely on talent alone, looking nothing like the dominating teams Saban fielded year in and out for the previous decade. The decline was right in front of us but as most are results-oriented, it wasn't overly-obvious.

I've been somewhat reserved in my criticisms of Saban but you can find posts I've made which were quietly critical of his team prep and coaching choices since 2020 because it was obvious something was wrong, from the process-oriented perspective.

It was a good run, but despite the W/L results, Bama hasn't really looked like Bama for the last few years. It was (likely past) time. I'm thankful for what Saban did but I'm also thankful he didn't hold on longer than he did.

I believe the quality of the assistant coaches had a lot to do with Bama not meeting the standards of past teams. In the end those hires are the head coach's responsibility.