Brandon Streeter
Darrell Dickey
Alabama’s Analysts: The Saban School for Wayward Coaches
Lane Kiffin
Love him or hate him, Kiffin is the exemplar of how a coach can use an analyst to strengthen their program. Kiffin was left on the Tarmac after an embarrassing loss and fired from his dream job at USC. He wore out his welcome in the NFL and broke the Vols’ hearts after one year. Saban brought Kiffin in during bowl prep in 2013 as a “consultant” to the offense. After Doug Nussemeir “left” for a new job at Michigan at the end of the season, Kiffin became the offensive coordinator.
Kiffin transformed and adapted Alabama’s offense into one of the most prolific in college football. In addition, he benefited from the opportunity and revamped his image enough to become the head coach first at Flordia Atlantic and now at Ole Miss. It was not a storybook ending in Alabama for Kiffin. Saban had to turn to another analyst when he fired Kiffin after the 2016 semifinal win over Washington.
Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian worked closely as an analyst with Kiffin to gameplan throughout the 2016 season at Alabama. He was working on rebuilding his own coaching reputation after his time at USC came to an abrupt end over personal issues. Sarkisian came right in and might have helped lead the Tide to a national championship if it wasn’t for a late touchdown by Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow.
Sarkisian left after that game to become the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons. He returned to Tuscaloosa in 2019 and helped lead one of the most creative and explosive offenses in history. Sarkisian is now taking some of Saban’s blueprints as he tries to help Texas realize its long-untapped potential.
Smart’s Use of Analysts
Will Muschamp
Smart has shown in recent years his ability to develop and utilize his analysts just like his old boss in Tuscaloosa did. Two years ago, Dan Lanning left as defensive coordinator to become the head coach at Oregon. Smart didn’t have to look far for his replacement. Muschamp came back to Georgia as a defensive analyst after he was fired by South Carolina during the 2020 season.
Smart and Muschamp had a long history together. Muschamp and Smart played together at Georgia. It was Muschamp that gave Smart his introduction to coaching and Saban. Smart’s first job was as a secondary coach at Valdosta State under Muschamp in 2000. Four years later, Muschamp brought his former teammate with him to LSU to coach the secondary under Saban. This began Smart’s apprenticeship.
Muschamp shares the title of co-defensive coordinator with Glenn Schumann. Despite losing Lanning and a number of top-end athletes to the draft in 2021, the defense was just as strong in 2022. When Georgia lost its offensive coordinator to the NFL this offseason, Smart once again tapped an old teammate and analyst to fill the void.
Mike Bobo
Smart promoted Bobo to offensive coordinator to replace Todd Monken in February. Bobo brings familiarity and continuity to the Georgia offense in 2023. Those were two keys stressed by Smart when he made the move and echoed this week in Spring practice by tight end Brock Bowers. “We kept most of the same terms because it’s a lot easier of a transition. He made it an easy transition for all of us.” This is Bobo’s second stint as a coach and offensive coordinator at Georgia. Georgia is hoping to see some big offense like he did when he had Aaron Murray at quarterback. Bobo has already won over Bowers. “I loved Coach Bobo last year. He was always around just bringing a good vibe. He’s a really smart dude on the offensive side of the ball, so I’m happy with it.”
Fans will hope that Streeter and Dickey can bring similar confidence in 2023 as the new Georgia analysts.
Photo courtesy: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
