On any other team or in any situation I would agree with you. This is Saban's team. Period. There won't be a power struggle or any other nonsense where coordinators are trying to do whatever they can for themselves. Now we can discuss if Kiffin as an OC and right now, jury is still out. We know he wasn't that successful with Vols and USC but we don't know if he would fare better with a top-rated recruited class. We do know that if it doesn't work out, Alabama/Nick Saban won't hesitate making the appropriate changes.
I'm definitely willing to give Coach Saban the benefit of the doubt here. I think that he's counting on four things:
1. Lane Kiffin's Vols almost kept Bama from reaching the NC game in 2009. He's also had some success as an OC.
2. Kiffin will be kept away from the press and will not have to do other head coaching duties. He also realizes that this may be his last best chance to reboot his career.
3. He has a good history working with quarterbacks, something Alabama needs now with McCarron gone and several people vying for the spot.
4. This may shake the offense up in a positive way.
Although the university gives Saban free rein in running the football program, I suspect that he had to make a strong case to AD Bill Battle to hire Kiffin.
2014-15 should be an interesting year!
