Paul Finebaum addresses the defensive coordinator candidate that would satisfy Crimson Tide fans
Paul Finebaum has a pulse on the Alabama fan base as much as any person working in the media. So when a major news story like a coordinator change comes into the picture, the ESPN commentator offers some perspective.
Finebaum joined “McElroy and Cubelic In the morning” on WJOX in Birmingham on Monday for his regular segment where he discussed which possible candidates would satisfy the fan base. Three possibilities that have been reported are former Alabama DC and Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, former Wisconsin DC and interim coach Jim Leonhard and Georgia co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann.
A large portion of the fan base was irritated with former DC Pete Golding, and he received a good chunk of the criticism for the Alabama defensive struggles in recent years.
“As crazy as this sounds, I think Jeremy Pruitt would probably calm people down,” Finebaum said. “It’s interesting how one name would complete set the folks at Tennessee up in arms, but at Alabama, Jeremy Pruitt is comfort food. Because it’s returning to an era when Alabama defense was dominant.”
Finebaum recalled that it wasn’t that long ago that Alabama was ranked No. 1, but now Kirby Smart at Georgia is going for a 3-peat. “That’s how quickly things can change,” he said.
“Whether it’s reality or not, the perception out there is that Nick Saban is fighting up stream to catch up, to keep his head above water,” Finebaum said.
The @SECNetwork‘s Paul @Finebaum joined the guys on @MacandCube to discuss which defensive coordinator hire would satisfy the @AlabamaFTBL fan base.
Whole interview: https://t.co/f3CschvXHW pic.twitter.com/RrvtMHCIIq
— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) January 16, 2023
I don’t know that Pruitt nor Schumann actually want the job. Why get up to eat the apples across the street when you are already sitting on a truckload of apples.
I just wonder if Kirby would have to remove the “Co-“ from Schumann’s DC title to keep him. I feel like UGA would be willing to pay him whatever to stay.
I wondered about having to remove the “co” as well. I’m sure Bama and GA can both pay whatever. Question is, does he want to go home and have the opportunity to revamp the defense?
And then replace Saban.
Personally I don’t believe too many people want to replace Saban!!!!! Think of the HOT MESS Alabama will become the day Saban retires! 75% of the team will transfer and 90% or more of the recruiting class will de-commit!!!!
Then said coach will inherit the most spoiled fan base in the history of college football!!!!!!! They inherited a championship or bust expectation. We are referring to the national championship!!!!
Very few if any outside of Kirby or Saban are built for such a job! Even Dabo made it clear he wanted no part of those championship or bust expectations after he won 2!!!!
He said he wanted it to remain fun at clemson!!! He mentioned offers to coach at other places. Outright said maybe he’s not the right man at clemson. Things calmed down at clemson after that but not for the best in my book!!!!
Nobody is jumping to replace Saban! They will have overwhelming weight on their shoulders right away! And recruits won’t just flock to the next Alabama coach if he’s not already a proven recruiter!!!!!
If he gets them, he still has to win Championships! It’s the only thing that satisfies Alabama fans! Even Saban is being criticized for not winning these last 2 years!!!!
PS. Absolutely nobody is jumping to replace him!!!!!!
Negan
Like Kirby Smart, Schumann may want to go back to his alma mater and build a name for himself as the only DC on the team. That would be a strong incentive to take the Bama job.
That is a very good point.
Donk……Kirby was at Georgia and FSU before Alabama. But Kirby also resisted going back as just the DC!!!!!
He’s very close with Kirby Smart personally!!! He left Saban for a reason. Saban is not the easiest to work for!!!!! Intact he’s toxic to work for!!!!
PS. Schumann could go back as DC but I don’t think there is any guarantee!!!!!
Negan
” In fact not intact “
The article states “which possible candidates would satisfy the fan base”. Satisfying the fan base is totally immaterial. Coach Nick Saban will hire the Defensive Coordinator that he feels can do the best job. When the new DC does a great job all Tide fans will be happy. Roll Tide !
I hate to breakdown everyone’s delusions but Kirby Smart is the reason Georgia has a top defense every year!!!! Now obviously he knows good defensive coaches when he sees them! I’m not certain Alabama is so easily fixed as some think. Not as long as Saban insist on going 1000 miles per hour!!!!!!!
PS. If Alabama stays fast, their defense will struggle!!!!!!!
Negan
There is no “up side” for Schumann leave for Bama. He’s young and will be offered a HC position one day. He should just sit tight and wait for the right opportunity. I’m sure Kirby will mentor him and support him when the time comes.
Upside……he could be replacing Saban a few years later.
Schumann is only 34 years old – around that age. I don’t see Alabama replacing Saban with someone that young and unproven.
Schumann will need to become a HC and have a good record before he becomes a real candidate for the job.
I don’t know about that. Especially if he was hired and proved himself by turning the D around. He would have been a coordinator under both Kirby and Saban.
If he coaches under Saban and Saban feels he would be great replacement he will get the job. Saban will be able to pick his successor so why not go over and work under him? Saban should have about 5 more years in him which is enough time for Schumann to learn and take over around 40 which is around the age Kirby was
Just any average DC should be able to turn the Alabama D around, with the talent they have!!!!!!
Negan
Personally I don’t believe too many people want to replace Saban!!!!! Think of the HOT MESS Alabama will become the day Saban retires! 75% of the team will transfer and 90% or more of the recruiting class will de-commit!!!!
Then said coach will inherit the most spoiled fan base in the history of college football!!!!!!! They inherited a championship or bust expectation. We are referring to the national championship!!!!
PS. Very few if any outside of Kirby or Saban are built for such a job! Even Dabo made it clear he wantedeee
Bama is his alma mater. Ask Kirby Smart if that is a strong incentive.
This^^^
It wasn’t an incentive for Kirby. After Grantham, Kirby’s name was being mentioned as a potential replacement. He was at Bama as DC and wouldn’t make the move back to UGA, so we got Pruitt. If anything, Kirby’s advice would seem to be not to make a lateral move from the current powerhouse to your alma mater, but to wait on the head coach position to open.
Big difference is age of the head coach. If Kirby goes to UGA and turns the d into one of the top in the country he never gets the opportunity to be the head guy at UGA. On the other hand is Schumann comes to Bama and does a great job Saban may very well choose him to replace him in 5 or so years.
He can get all that from Saban at his alma mater Alabama.
I get that he went to school at Bama. I don’t see Saban still being at Alabama longer than 3-years. Just a guess…
I think Schumann will make a fine HC one day. Let’s say Saban retires in three years, that would make Schumann around 37 – I believe. Just sounds kind of young to be the real best candidate for that job.
If he went to Bama now and Saban retired in 8-years, I could see it as a more likely possibility.
Excellent point.
“There is no “up side” for Schumann leave for Bama. ”
Money, better job title…
With Saban in his 70’s, isn’t that exactly why a top coordinator would jump to Bama? Maybe not 10 years ago, 5 years ago. It might make sense to go for a current top coach rather than Pruitt who likely won’t be a HC in Bama’s future.
seem to be 3 solid options. curious as to how saban truly ranks the 3 of them. unless there were some unknown personality conflicts amongst saban and pruitt, pruitt does seem to be the best option…granted there’s no attached ncaa infraction in bring him in
Can Pruitt even be hired at this point?
Patrino could. So yes.
It remains to be seen. The NCAA has not completed the investigation, so the punishment is yet to be determined. Pruitt could certainly get hit with a “just cause” punishment which would preclude him from coaching for the length of time the cause would be in effect.
Pruitt and his wife will have a show-cause. hers might be longer:) hes going to be a fixture on the WPT!
I think the fan base would want Pruitt but a show cause is coming. Schumann would be the most likely choice and he would be coming home. Don’t rule out a promotion from within also, small chance but possible. Another huge question in the next 7-10 days will be who replaces BOB.
I highly doubt that Saban would hire Pruitt at this time as he has the NCAA investigation hanging over his head. If he gets a show cause, he’s done unless they can win an appeal. That’s too much aggravation to deal with. It would also look desperate.
I can’t imagine a scenario where he doesn’t get a show cause.
This was my thought when reading it too
Saban wants no part of all of that, I’m sure
He’ll take busted and broken coaches and rehab them, but not at the expense of his program. Pruitt wouldn’t even be allowed to coach for 2-3 years, if the NCAA is consistent….which they are not…..
Finebaum’s the Whoopie of sport’s pundits. Often loud and passionate about things that only reveal their biases. And with both, their ignorance is only eclipsed by their arrogance.
Yep, he says more what he thinks will get clicks, not necessarily what he may really think. It’s just entertainment motivating him, plain and simple. It worked on me, had to see what he was gonna say, I guessed ”Pruitt” before clicking, based on the belief above… whadda you know…
Pruitt can woo recruits with the promise of free McDonald’s while enrolled in college.
If I’m Saban, my first call would be to Schumann. Anyone other than him are question marks.
MUSCHAMP COULD BE A FIT
Saban would advise these guys not to make a lateral move if they were on his staff. What’s that called?
If Saban wasn’t in his 70’s that might be true. But a chance to perform well as a coordinator on the Bama staff is going to be part of the hire equation at this point.
Would the SEC let bama hire him?