Despite Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide defeating the Ole Miss Rebels, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is still discussing who will replace Saban when the time comes for the coach to retire.
A few weeks ago, Finebaum brought up Deion Sanders as a possible Saban successor, now a new name has emerged, former Georgia assistant and Oregon head coach Dan Lanning.
“Dan Lanning yesterday, both with his coaching on the field and with his comments at halftime and after the game, he has now emerged as one of the top coaches in the country, and a former (Nick) Saban and Kirby Smart assistant, maybe he’s a successor at Alabama one day,” Finebaum said.
Paul Finebaum said Oregon's Dan Lanning "has now emerged as one of the top coaches in the country. And the former Saban and Kirby Smart assistant, maybe a successor at Alabama some day." That led to a "We didn't say it, Paul Finebaum said it" reaction from Randy Scott. pic.twitter.com/OTRKIK8gM9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 24, 2023
It’s not impossible to see Lanning as Saban’s successor. He’s 37, coached in the SEC with both Saban and Kirby Smart, and has a 14-3 record since becoming Ducks head coach.
Some are wondering if this could be Saban’s last year as head coach even though he hasn’t said that, he did just purchase a home in Florida and since the Tide is struggling this year, you have to wonder if this will have an effect on him.
Saban has said in the past if he feels like he can no longer be an asset to the program he’d retire but he also says he loves a challenge and this year has been a challenge to him already.
