Time for the Nick Saban “Hot Seat” talk to begin. After all, it’s obviously justified based on the following statistics:
Georgia 2008
- Final Ranking Previous Season – #2
- Preseason Ranking – #1
- 2008 Regular Season Record – 9-3, with losses coming to a division rival (Florida), an up and comer from the West (Alabama), and a hated in-state rival (Georgia Tech).
Alabama 2010
- Final Ranking Previous Season – #1
- Preseason Ranking – #1
- 2010 Regular Season Record – 9-3, with losses coming to a division rival (LSU), an up and comer from the East (South Carolina), and a hated in-state rival (Auburn).
The similarities are quite striking – the high preseason ranking, getting manhandled unexpectedly by a team from the other side of the conference, and blowing a huge lead against an arch-rival in the last regular season match up.
Why there hasn’t been a campaign by local and national writers to remove Saban from his job is very puzzling. I am just going to have to assume that Mark Richt is held to a higher standard than Darling Nikki.
UPDATE: You can add to the list of coincidences a victory over Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.
I’ve been saying this for some time now.
CMR was not on the hot seat after 2008. If Saban follows this year’s 9-3 with a 8-5 then a 6-6. He won’t be on the hot seat, he’ll be fired. At UGA you get another year.
Not that I’m a Saban fan, but winning a NC will buy you some breathing room.