Can Texas pry Nick Saban away from Alabama?

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Reports are that Mack Brown will step down as head coach of the Texas Longhorns football team by the end of the week, we think. At one point on Tuesday, I got a text alert from ESPN saying Brown was going to resign, then got another alert saying Brown had denied that he was stepping down, and then a last text that said he was going to be out by the end of the week. It does appear at this point, the Longhorns will have a new coach.

With all that talk has come talk that Texas will pursue Alabama head coach Nick Saban to fill the void. Why wouldn't they? He's been the best college football coach in America for a few years now, and is on his way
possibly to going down as the greatest ever.

Would Nick Saban entertain the idea of leaving the powerhouse that he's built at Alabama to rebuild a once-proud Texas program? Justin @jwmillion and I @weltmoney discuss.

If you were Nick Saban, would you leave Alabama for the Texas job and why?

@weltmoney: No. At age 62, it would be enticing to move on to another big-time football school with the chance to add another chapter to my legacy. Saban has already won a BCS Championship at two different schools in LSU and Alabama, and doing so at a third school like Texas would make him even more of a legend. However, the work has already been done at Alabama and Saban has a chance to win more titles immediately and can retire with his legacy in tact. There is the slight chance that if Saban moves on to Texas, he will be unable to build a championship program and then he becomes too old to continue trying. Then the last chapter of his legacy is his inability to do that, although it won't taint his overall legacy too much. He's already put in enough work to be considered one of the greatest coaches of all time and if I were him, I'd stay at Alabama for the duration where I've already won three titles with a chance to add a fourth as soon as next season.

@jwmillion: Sure, why not? While listening to ESPN radio yesterday I had an epiphany about this subject. Before yesterday I would have said absolutely not, at 62, why leave the best program in the best conference for an underachieving one? But when Greeny (Mike Greenberg) said on Mike & Mike, "some people are builders and some people are maintainers" I immediately changed my mind. Saban has proven he doesn't have a problem up and leaving for new opportunities. Yes, Alabama is the mecca of college football right now, but if there is one program to take a chance on at building another dynasty, Texas makes the most sense. They always have top recruiting classes and adding Saban would put them in national championship contender conversation immediately after a disappointing 8-4 season. Think about it, what else can Alabama offer Saban? I can image he has more money than he knows what to do with so that isn't a factor. Sure, he can stay at Alabama and have a shot at winning another title, but realistically he could have the same opportunity in a year or two at Texas...on his own TV network. If he truly is a "builder" he is probably already bored at Alabama and it seems as though the stars have aligned for a perfect time to jump ship again. I'd jump.  

In food/restaurant terms, what would be the equivalent of Saban leaving Alabama for Texas?

@weltmoney: Imagine if the Burger King executives decided to force out the Original Chicken Sandwich and any of its lesser chicken assistant sandwiches with ideas of luring Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich to its menu. That would be a tremendous catch for the King, nearly as great as Texas signing Saban.

@jwmillion: Think organic, five star ingredients and James Beard award winning chefs merging with McDonald's. And since these chefs have already experienced the top, the menu prices don't change so everyone can enjoy high quality food. McDoubles made with Kobe beef, french fries with truffle oil, filet of fish made with Sea Bass...it would be amazing.    

Lastly and more importantly, what are you having for lunch?

@weltmoney: I have eaten fast food all this week so far, so I will be going home to prepare myself a gourmet lunch. That will likely consist of Johnsonville Jalapeno & Cheddar Smoked Sausage with Cheez-Its on the side and a large glass of sweet tea. It will be delicious. Or should I have Campbell's Chunky Soup Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo? It may be a game-time decision.

@jwmillion: I'm planning to have BBQ from a hole in the wall joint not far from my office. I usually get the brisket but today I may switch it up and go with a pulled chicken platter. With a choice of two sides, an automatic choice is coleslaw and the other may be anything from green beans to beer cheese grits. And of course sweet tea.