A Eulogy for Alabama Football: Time to Fire Nick Saban?

Well, it was a fun run. After this past weekend’s game, however, the writing is on the wall. How can a program carry on after a five point loss to the number two team in the country? How can a team succeed after two home losses in four years? I’m really asking, of course, is it time to fire Nick Saban?

The Good Years

For a few years there, Nick Saban looked like the real deal. Upon arriving at a storied program like Alabama, expectations were high. After going 2-6 in his first season, it seemed as if maybe Alabama had overpaid Nick with his eight year, $32 million contract. However, he rebounded, going 12-2 the following year, but lost the SEC championship to Florida, and then lost the Sugar Bowl to Utah. In 2009, Nick finally climbed the mountain with Alabama, going 14-0 and beating Florida in the SEC championship. The Tide would go up against Texas in the BCS National Championship game, winning 37-21 with the school’s first Heisman winner, Mark Ingram. This was Alabama’s first win against Texas ever, but came with an asterisk. Longhorns starting QB, Colt McCoy, was knocked out of the game on the first drive by Marcell Dareus. If Colt McCoy stayed in the game, who knows who would have won, and how long Nick Saban would have lasted in Tuscaloosa.

After beating a McCoy-less Longhorn team, Saban and the Tide went 10-3 the following year, beating Michigan State in Capital One Bowl. This down year was followed by consecutive one loss, National Championship winning seasons in which Alabama beat LSU (who they lost to earlier in the year) and Notre Dame. After a two year National Championship drought, Alabama faced Clemson in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship. Alabama won 45-40 with the school’s second Heisman winner, Derrick Henry. This win, however, was the beginning of the end, and why it is now time to fire Nick Saban.

The Decline

Following an impressive 2016 campaign, the Tide once again faced off against Clemson in the National Championship. This time, however, Clemson bested Alabama off of Deshaun Watson’s 420 yards and three TDs. While this could have ended Nick Saban’s career in Tuscaloosa, he bought himself some time the following year. After not playing in the SEC Championship, the Tide snuck into the playoffs as the four seed, and miraculously came back against Georgia to win it. This was not because of Nick Saban, however, but because of a freshman QB from Hawaii named Tua Tagovailoa. After the now famous 2nd and 26 play, Nick Saban bought himself some time, but that time was cut short. In a fourth consecutive National Championship Game appearance, Alabama was blown out against Clemson, losing 44-16. This, however, would not be the final nail in the coffin, as we would have to wait another year to see why Alabama should fire Nick Saban.

So, Why Should Alabama Fire Nick Saban?

Alabama’s five point loss to LSU this past weekend is unacceptable. Going up against one of the most explosive offense’s in the country with a Heisman contending QB is unacceptable. This one loss casts a shadow over Nick Saban’s entire tenure with Alabama. After coming off a string of amazing coaches after Bear Bryant, with names such as Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchione, Mike Price, and Mike Shula, Nick Saban had high expectations. When it seemed like Nick Saban could live up to those expectations, LSU ruined it. After a complete blowout the Tigers handed Alabama at home, there is no other choice but to fire Nick Saban.