Nick Saban’s coaching rehab at the University of Alabama is two-fold.
It creates opportunities for coaches to reinvent themselves and endear themselves to a passionate fan base; however, it also opens them to other enticing job offers in the future and a coach that was starting to be loved by fans has to part ways from them.
This song and dance happens again with Stephen “Steve” Ambrose Sarkisian.
After two seasons with the Crimson Tide, the University of Texas desired him and hired him to be its next head football coach.
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Before he becomes a full-time Longhorn, Sarkisian operated the nation’s most explosive offense this season. He’s coached three Heisman finalists, including two in the top-four. Mac Jones (quarterback) and DeVonta Smith (wide receiver) have both done more than enough to grant the Tide its third Heisman winner in school history, but we will see what happens next Tuesday.
For now, the primary question is will the news on Sarkisian become too much of a distraction for Alabama in the College Football Playoff?
He will coach the offense in the CFP National Championship Game versus Ohio State on Jan. 11 at HardRock Stadium in Miami, Fla.
We saw moments with Kirby Smart (2015) and Jeremy Pruitt (2017) where it was not an issue, but we also saw in situations with Lane Kiffin (2016) and multiple coaches in 2018 where it was an issue and it cost Alabama a national title.
Smart and Pruitt both finished the job with national titles, prior to assuming roles as head coaches. Sarkisian is a savvy professional and he wants to finish what he started.
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He has a chance to win his first national championship as an offensive coordinator.
The last time he was on top of the college football world was in 2003 as a quarterbacks’ coach for the University of Southern California.
When it comes to this team, the 2017 class is its saving grace. With six five-stars leading the group, the class arrived under a lot of pressure and expectations.
Despite the responsibility, the 2017 bunch has accomplished a lot. It has an opportunity to be cemented as one of the best classes to come through the program. While the 2009 signing class was a part of three BCS National Championships, the significance of the group was felt in two of them. The 2017 class snatched victory from defeat in the 2018 CFP National Championship, as Tua Tagovailoa, Alex Leatherwood, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith all played versus Georgia.
Saban knew he had recruited the talent in 2017, but he also knew he brought in players with hunger.
RELATED: How Alabama fans reacted to reported Steve Sarkisian to Texas news
Najee Harris is the talker of the group, but he will hurdle you back in place. Mac Jones has been through so much as a first-year starting quarterback, but he refuses to end this season with a championship. Three of the Tide’s four permanent team captains — Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Alex Leatherwood — were from the 2017 class. Harris, Smith, Leatherwood and Dylan Moses all returned for an opportunity to leave as national champions. Even with their individual accomplishments, this class knows its career is not complete without a second national title ring. Expect a fierce week of practice and complete focus from Alabama, as the 2017 class won’t allow distractions to happen. This group is one win away from immortality and becoming the second team of the Saban era to finish a perfect season with a national championship.
The Tide will be prepared for Ryan Day and Ohio State.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith
