In the wake of Alabama’s loss to Michigan, Nate Oats made the same case that we all have made, indeed that he has made for four years now — winning a title is about personnel, the Jimmies and Joes, and especially in the paint.
The Crimson Tide simply must get bigger, and they must get more physical. Oats even indicated that he’s willing to rethink parts of his roster construction to attract interior talent.
He was accused of whining about Bediako, but CNO’s full remarks are very thoughtful, actually — and they run far afield from injuries, to players being out of position, to resilience and young guys stepping up.
Details have not been released yet, but at least we know an agreement is in principle, and it will keep the wolves away from the door — importantly, it will keep that buyout sky high.
In terms of what we can expect, I think it will be very close to what I called for earlier this week: a long-term commitment functionally akin to a lifetime deal — something in the decade-range similar to the contracts received by Calipari and Bruce Pearl, as well as a bump in the assistant pool, and NIL.
How does the Tide afford that?
Football is going to get a haircut, whether they like it or not. But that’s not as bad as it sounds.
When you see that CFB recruiting budgets are increasingly shrinking across the SEC, except for Alabama and Tennessee last year, there will be savings to be had. Portal players are going to be money better spent than throwing cash at a high school five-star.
And in world where you have to prioritize your Bama Bucks, every $200,000 saved on passing-by a high school pigskin recruit is $200,000 that affords you a rebounding specialist off the bench at the four-spot.
As the kids say, “there are layers to this shit.”
This is the best news that Alabama could have possibly received, and so we can finally sleep easily. Not today, Tarheels. Not today.
Roll Tide #BOG