Joel Klatt speculates Nick Saban gave 'blessing' for Pete Golding's Alabama departure
Over the weekend, Ole Miss announced that after 5 years on Nick Saban’s staff (4 as the Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator), Pete Golding was trading in Tuscaloosa for Oxford and joining Lane Kiffin’s staff in the same role.
In 2022, Alabama finished with its lowest ranking in Defensive SP+ since Golding took over (11th). In fact, it’s the first time in 15 years the Tide finished outside the top 10 in Defensive SP+. The Tide ranked 35th in defensive success rate and were left out of the College Football Playoff for only the 2nd time in its existence.
Now, Saban has the opportunity to find someone new to lead the defense.
FOX’s Joel Klatt hinted on his show this week the legendary head coach probably isn’t too shaken up about that fact.
“I don’t think anything happens at Alabama or within that program under Nick Saban that Nick Saban doesn’t either bless or desire,” Klatt said. “He wants it to happen either way. I know of guys specifically — and I’m not gonna name names — that have coached for Nick Saban that got great opportunities and he told them, ‘No, you’re not gonna do that. You’re gonna stay here and here’s the reason why.’ He desired that they stayed.
“Those same guys got different opportunities, and he said, ‘Thumbs up, go ahead, that’s a good one.’ You cannot tell me that Nick Saban sat in front of Pete Golding and said, ‘Yeah, Ole Miss defensive coordinator is better than being here. You need to go do that.’ That’s all I’m gonna say.
“I think Pete has done a nice job in many respects. They’ve lost Charles Kelly as well. He went to Colorado to be the defensive coordinator at Colorado. I would just say this: at Alabama, nothing happens in that program — nothing happens in that program — that Nick Saban doesn’t either bless or desire.”
ESPN reported over the weekend that Golding’s decision to leave Alabama was his own and that he was not pushed out.
But this isn’t the first defensive assistant to exit since the season ended. Kelly — hinted at by Klatt above — left his position as the associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach to join Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado.
"I don't think anything happens at Alabama than Nick Saban doesn't either bless or desire"@JoelKlatt on DC Pete Golding heading to Ole Miss (via @joelklattshow)pic.twitter.com/4u13eJj4Gy
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 17, 2023
Georgia Football is the capstone of college football. The first and ONLY back to back National Champions in the playoff era.
Bama is the first and only one with 3 CFP championships….
H3LL YEAH, ALADAMMNBAMA!!!!
Welcome back BamaTime, I thought those Tennessee Red Knicks ran you off for good. In those 3 CFP Alabama Nattys, how many were a 15-0 season?
I’ve been posting over at SB nation… I’ve posted a time or two in the past few months..
I see you’re being called out by the rest of the UGA fans on multiple articles… It looks as though it didn’t take them long to figure you out….
Oh and a championship counts as a championship… So Bama has 3 In the CFP era…
cdstoudemire 2 DAYS AGO
I really hate some people! Doug you fall in that category!!!!
That’s a good one..
Dirty South 2 DAYS AGO
That is a ignorant @s$ comment to make. But then again most of what you post is bu!!$h!t so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Got a laugh out of this one too..
15-0 means more! Last SEC Championship was a bad taste in my mouth, cause we lost to team that wasn’t better than us. And a 3 peat is not out of the possibility next year.
Sorry to inform you that it still only counts as a single Championship….
Congratulations on the Natty. UGA is only one behind now in the CFP era…
Which division of SEC were you playing in for your undefeated seasons? The best or the least?
Sorry. They were the first in the CFP but not the first to do it. Bama 2011 & 2012 and they’ve had 3 more since then. Ga is excellent but they are not the capstone. Check back when y’all hit double digits in championships and beat somebody besides a cupcake to win one
Alabama was not undefeated during their back to back championships in either season. As far as the rest of them, you don’t get credit for being a former champion.
You don’t? So back to backs only count? Then UGA still behind Bama, they have 3 back to backs in since modern poll era! Nebraska 1994-95 went undefeated in back to back. UGA hasn’t done anything that hasn’t been done before. 1978 – 79 Bama back to back had a undefeated season.
You have to always compare Ga to Alabama? I wonder why that is
Guess what Doug. Georgia was not undefeated in its back to back championships. Who did they lose to in that timeframe? Do you block it out like 2nd and 26?
Ga was undefeated in one of the back to back championships the last championship there was a loss to Alabama and they did not play us this year so i don’t know what your babbling about
BamaBelle18………..Yea, that was back when Alabama sank or swam by DEFENSE!!!! Y’all played legendary championship defense back then!!!! One of the great defensive teams ever!!!! Very very similar to Georgia now!!!!
Man Pete Golding was so great back then….Oh wait…….
PS. Remind me who that DC was back then? Wait it was KIRBY SMART, WASN’T IT!!!! IMAGINE THAT!!!!!!! LOL
Negan
So that gives Georgia what…3 total nattys??
Bahahahahahaha Bahahahahahaha Bahahahahahaha Bahahahahahaha
15-0 is something that Alabama has never achieved. Get back to me when that happens.
I mean 3 CFP championships is something UGA has never achieved… A BCS championship is another thing UGA hasn’t achieved…. A Bowl coalition NC is something they haven’t achieved…
I mean we could go on and on…
If the referee did his job and didn’t call offsides on the punt block, Georgia wins that game too. The NCAA has already apologized to Georgia for the error. It’s over now, we got 2 to be proud of.
I was referring to 2018
if and buts are just like nuts on your chin……. If official would of?? You have 2 in CFP, 3 overall.
Alabama has 5 undefeated seasons … 2 under Nick
Alabama has won back to back championships 3 times
Wow Doug…. So you’re still crying and making up lies…
Nobody apologized to UGA… The ref said they called to wrong penalty… Even if they called the right one it was no play…
Like I said, we can go on and on about things Bama has achieved that UGA hasn’t… you crying about the refs doesn’t change it..
The Bottom line hZ Georgia the best 2 year record in college football history. Next year Georgia has the chance to go undefeated again. It would be tough, but not surprising.
The Bottom line Georgia has the….
Congratulations…. UGA is still one behind Bama when it comes to CFP Championships…
They aren’t in the ballpark when it comes to conference or total NC’s..
But hey atleast you tied Clemson..
Oh an just to throw a wrench in your chest thumping I would like to point out Nebraska in 94-95 went undefeated both season winning their conference and the NC both years…
They didn’t get boat raced by a team and not win their conference….. They were perfect for those two years.
That block punt play should have been blown dead due to the RB motion. You know that Doug. Find a new excuse.
BamaTime…….Georgia broke Alabama like it or not!!!!!!
Enjoy your basketball team!!!
PS. How is women’s swimming???
Negan
“I don’t think anything happens at Alabama or within that program under Nick Saban that Nick Saban doesn’t either bless or desire,” Klatt said.
Klatt doing his best to keep the natives in Alabamstan from experiencing a spiritual crisis – the realization that there deity might be getting a little long in the tooth, losing a step or two, becoming uncle joe’s kindred spirit, ready for the glue factory …
You are probably right. That is why Bama did so poorly in recruiting this cycle.
Jimbo out recruited everybody last season …
That was last season. Bama did pretty good this season after finishing 2nd last cycle.
you did the right thing, on your knees thanking alabama and saban for training curby. georgia is nothing without alabama
More like
“Pete, there’s about to be some personnel changes on the coaching staff, is your resume updated?”
Haha exactly what happened if I was a betting man. Let’s not pretend that’s a lateral move for Pete.
I speculate that Saban told him that Bama was going to go in a different direction and that he needed to find another job.
all joking aside that would be my bet
Saban has only actually fired one coach while at Bama. That was Bo Davis. He tells the others to get another job abd helps some of them find one.
Don’t let the door hit you where the Lord split you?
Anyone who believes Golding left Bama for Ole Miss without the blessing or pushing him to do so by Saban just doesn’t know how it works. Saban does a good job allowing asst to leave and still have dignity without being fired. Golding was gone whether it was to OM or elsewhere you can believe that. I mean really who’d leave as Bama’s dc to go to OM? That’s like leaving Michigan to coach at slippery rock. I believe O’Briens contract will be up in February and then he’ll be replaced. I’ll guarantee you someone has already been contacted for a future OC at Bama. Sabans not going to publicly criticize his assts but behind closed doors they know where they stand.
Nobody leaves Alabama to take the same coaching job at a lesser program unless they were given “options”. Don’t forget Saban fired Kiffin the week of the Natty one year. He’s knows what he’s doing. Ga fans can quit trolling trying to figure out his plan. You won’t know until he want you to know.
Lesser program? The arrogance and entitlement of most Alabama fans is iontach. Nothing is forever…just something to remember.
Bama is 54-10 against Ole Miss… That pretty close to forever in CFB..
Did I just read that? Ole Miss is historically and presently a lesser football program in every aspect of football compared to Bama. Ole Miss hasn’t even learned you can punt on your own 30 on 4th and 8! Took Oxford 60 years to sell “cold beer”, never understood the hot only beer sales. Love the town and The Groove, but not in the same hemisphere as Bama.
You have to allow Pete to explore new opportunities if you’re going to get the Dan Mullen and 3rd and Grantham band back together in T-Town!
Belle we aren’t worried about his plan as he’s behind in every facet compared to UGA. The old man will try to catch up but I like UGA’s chances to stay ahead. Only the UGA plan is our concern.
Being an outsider, seeing the number and f Georgia fans commenting shows who lives in who’s head.
Dawgs, enjoy your back to back natty’s and stop being so insecure.
SunDevil, there are a number of Georgia fans that feed off Bama articles. They’re called trolls.
Georgia fans have no class. They should be paying homage to Saban for hiring and training Curby. They owe their success to Alabama.
2nd and 26 back in 2018 has apparently affected some Dawg fans for life. Bama lives in their heads.
Sore losers
I think Saban more than blessed it, he ordered it.
Spot on.
Another thing. There are those just waiting for Georgia to be human. So they can slap you down and say. See we told you your no alabama!!!!! Because they have forgotten just how hard Alabama was to deal with when they were on top!!!!!!!!
PS. GEORGIA FANS ARE JUST GIVING WHAT WE GOT
FOR YEARS!!!!!
Things like 1980, 1 title in 41 years! Y’all haven’t been relevant in 41 years! You name it and they said It about Georgia and much more!!!
PS. Now they want us to calm down!!!!!! No way!!!!!
Negan