It's too early to say that Alabama will have to accept a new normal, but it's certainly already feeling the pain of Nick Saban's retirement.
The five-star wide receiver comes less than 24 hours after the legendary Crimson Tide coach announced his retirement. Ryan Williams announces decommitment from Tidedirectly cited Saban's departure as a key reason to consider other options.
“Actually, I had no idea,” Williams told ESPN. “We're in a dead period right now, and we've just seen all these other players move on or declare for the draft. I was wondering. [what would happen]I found out about it on Twitter, [that Saban was retiring]”
The Saraland, Alabama, native had already cooled off the idea of playing for the Tide after wide receivers coach Hormone Wiggins left Alabama to join Mike Elko's staff at Texas A&M. Williams told ESPN that Saban's departure was the final straw.
“After the coach [Holmon] “It was already tough for Wiggins to leave because that's my position coach,” Williams said. “But you can always find another position coach. With Coach Saban leaving, it's like a legacy is gone. That was the biggest takeaway.”
It's unclear whether Williams will be the first of several potential players to decommit from Alabama. The recipient did not sign a formal offer, intending to sign in February after his birthday, so the recruitment remains undisclosed. Williams was highly coveted by Auburn and also had offers from Texas, Arkansas and Colorado.
What is clear is that the Tide is currently facing a serious recruiting battle to stay. Although this school does not have NIL funding like other top schools, Saban's mystique has often been able to make up for the lack of funding. This is exactly what the Tuscaloosa News wrote in DecemberSaban's pitches routinely included pitching players on the idea of their future in the NFL rather than taking money now.
Without Saban's pedigree, it's unclear how that process will move forward. A new coach will have to not only claim to be a winner right away, but also try to evoke the same arguments as Saban, without the resume to back it up.
Until the Tide proves they can be perennial contenders without Saban, more players may evaluate their options instead of heading to Tuscaloosa.
