4 Years Ago... Arizona State OC Billy Napier was ‘____ed' he didn't get Alabama OC jo

[Tripple Threat]

4 years ago when Billy Napier left Alabama for Arizona State, Steve Sarkisian got the OC job at Alabama. Now that Sarkisian is headed to Texas, will Saban offer the job to Napier and will Napier take it?

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/

[fanof71]

No f'ing way...

[Cajun Power]

Unless it comes with the caveat that Saban is retiring in 2-3 years and he is the guaranteed heir, why would he?

And Saban is only 70. He could conceivably coach for another 5-10 years. Considering that he appears to get no joy out of life whatsoever, I don’t see him hanging up his clipboard any time soon to take up gardening or shuffleboard.

[covcaj]

Unless it comes with the caveat that Saban is retiring in 2-3 years and he is the guaranteed heir, why would he?

And Saban is only 70. He could conceivably coach for another 5-10 years. Considering that he appears to get no joy out of life whatsoever, I don’t see him hanging up his clipboard any time soon to take up gardening or shuffleboard.

You make a very good point about Saban. I have never seen the man express obvious joy. Even when he is receiving the trophy, the smile seems forced. Really a shame that a man who has acheived so much within his profession seems to derive so little joy from it. I believe an SSRI might be called for.

[Cajunrunner]

You make a very good point about Saban. I have never seen the man express obvious joy. Even when he is receiving the trophy, the smile seems forced. Really a shame that a man who has acheived so much within his profession seems to derive so little joy from it. I believe an SSRI might be called for.

It seems many of the true GOATs operate in such a manner. Bill Bellichek. Jerry Rice. Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods.

Those guys and Saban seemed to show spurts of having fun, but never truly enjoying the moment. Like they were always still chasing something obsessively. I'm sure two days after winning a NC, Saban is watching film. Steve Young tells of going to the 49er facility to grab personal items two days after winning the '94 Super Bowl, and Rice is by himself running routes on the practice field. Jordan was compulsive. Woods and Bellichek address the media like robots. Kobe Bryant seemed to be ticked off half the time.

[covcaj]

It seems many of the true GOATs operate in such a manner. Bill Bellichek. Jerry Rice. Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods.

Those guys and Saban seemed to show spurts of having fun, but never truly enjoying the moment. Like they were always still chasing something obsessively. I'm sure two days after winning a NC, Saban is watching film. Steve Young tells of going to the 49er facility to grab personal items two days after winning the '94 Super Bowl, and Rice is by himself running routes on the practice field. Jordan was compulsive. Woods and Bellichek address the media like robots. Kobe Bryant seemed to be ticked off half the time.

Some might make the argument that this is the price you pay for success, but there are too many people who were successful who took care of business, were prepared, but also seemed to enjoy themselves. Just as an example, I would cite Drew Brees. No doubt a HOFer but he seems to enjoy what he is doing and is able to celebrate his team's successes with his teammates. I believe being a little OCD is helpful in really being successful, but, as with everything else in life, too much is also a hinderence to having an enjoyable life.

[Cajunrunner]

Just as an example, I would cite Drew Brees. No doubt a HOFer but he seems to enjoy what he is doing and is able to celebrate his team's successes with his teammates.

Yes, but I'm talking about that trait for Greatest of All Time at their professions. I know Saints fans love Drew Brees, but he's not the Rice/Saban/Jordan level of greatness.

[covcaj]

Yes, but I'm talking about that trait for Greatest of All Time at their professions. I know Saints fans love Drew Brees, but he's not the Rice/Saban/Jordan level of greatness.

I think you're right, but, just to pick that nit, while I agree that Brees is not at the level of a Saban or Jordan, I do think I would put him in the same category as Rice.

[tdncz]

I am very concerned that this might happen.
Two big Alabama fans in my neighborhood I saw after Sark announced leaving told me “half jokingly,” “Saban is coming for Napier...”

[tdncz]

I am very concerned that this might happen.
Two big Alabama fans in my neighborhood I saw after Sark announced leaving told me “half jokingly,” “Saban is coming for Napier...”

Not that they are insiders
But there IS some talk...

[Cajunrunner]

I do think I would put him in the same category as Rice.

Then you're saying he's one of the Top 2 or 3 players in NFL history.

[covcaj]

Then you're saying he's one of the Top 2 or 3 players in NFL history.

I readily admit that I am getting out of my depth here, because I follow sports only casually, so, I will use this opportunity to be educated....
When I think of Saban and Jordan as GOATs, I place then there not only because of their talent and ability, but also their impact on the game.

Rice is certainly one of the top receivers ever, but did he have the impact on football that Jordan and Saban had on basketball and college football? ... I'll hang up and listen.

[Cajunrunner]

Rice is certainly one of the top receivers ever, but did he have the impact on football that Jordan and Saban had on basketball and college football?

When NFL Network did their countdown to 100 Greatest Players of All-Time several years back, he was #1. Rice set records in an era when DBs could still play some actual defense against the pass. His 10 year stretch from '86 to '95 is about as dominant for his position as any other player during such a stretch in NFL history, except maybe Jim Brown.

And just like Saban and Jordan, you dig into their performances on the biggest stage. In the NFL, that's the Super Bowl. Look at his first three SB games. His fourth was at the age of 40, and it was actually still better than what his closest challenger for best in his position (Randy Moss) accomplished in his prime SB appearance.

Every other position in the NFL there can be some debate as to who was the best (though I'd say Tom Brady may very well have closed that debate for QBs). For receiver, there's no real debate.


We may have gone away from the point of this thread...but in short, Rice is closer to the Jordan/Saban level of his trade than Brees is to him. And Rice had that same obsessive compulsive trait as those two.

[fanof71]

4 years ago when Billy Napier left Alabama for Arizona State, Steve Sarkisian got the OC job at Alabama. Now that Sarkisian is headed to Texas, will Saban offer the job to Napier and will Napier take it?

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/

Tracking a Fed Ex cargo jet from Lafayette to Tuscaloosa....Something to do with an elephant..

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know.
Then we tried to remove the tusks. The tusks. That's not so easy to say. Tusks.
You try it some time. As I say, we tried to remove the tusks. But they were embedded so firmly we couldn't budge them.
Of course, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa, but that is entirely ir-elephant to what I was talking about"

[covcaj]

When NFL Network did their countdown to 100 Greatest Players of All-Time several years back, he was #1. Rice set records in an era when DBs could still play some actual defense against the pass. His 10 year stretch from '86 to '95 is about as dominant for his position as any other player during such a stretch in NFL history, except maybe Jim Brown.

And just like Saban and Jordan, you dig into their performances on the biggest stage. In the NFL, that's the Super Bowl. Look at his first three SB games. His fourth was at the age of 40, and it was actually still better than what his closest challenger for best in his position (Randy Moss) accomplished in his prime SB appearance.

Every other position in the NFL there can be some debate as to who was the best (though I'd say Tom Brady may very well have closed that debate for QBs). For receiver, there's no real debate.


We may have gone away from the point of this thread...but in short, Rice is closer to the Jordan/Saban level of his trade than Brees is to him. And Rice had that same obsessive compulsive trait as those two.

Thanks for the info. And, I tend to agree about Brady. There was always a question as to whether Brady made Belichick or vice versa. The argument could be made that Belichick was not Belichick before he had Brady... on the other hand, Brady wasn't considered that much before Belichick. However, based on this year, it appears we are getting closer to the answer.