Replacing a legendary coach is one of the most difficult tasks in college sports, but someone has to do it. Someone came after John Wooden. Someone came after Bear Bryant. Someone came after Mike Krzyzewski. And now someone will come after Nick Saban at Alabama.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne might not have known exactly when this moment was coming, but he assuredly will not be caught flat-footed. At age 72, Saban clearly had been in his twilight for several seasons, so Byrne had a fluid pocket list of candidates going at all times.
The good news: the next coach of the Crimson Tide inherits a blueblood program in fantastic shape. The bad news: it’s impossible to win at the level Saban did for as long as he did in Tuscaloosa.