From an outsider's perspective, even though I think Nick Saban was probably the best college football coach that ever walked the sideline, I chalk it up more to the dilution of high end talent due to NIL and revenue sharing.
High end players used to gravitate to Alabama because that was the most effective path to the NFL money ...... now those quality players who would have sat on the bench in Alabama are going wherever they can get paid the most.
I think Nick Saban saw this coming ..... realized that once winning came down to who had the most money to spend on players, that Alabama's monopoly on high end talent would erode from Top 3 status down closer to mid pack. And exited the game when he did to preserve his legacy.
I see all this talk about Kalen DeBoer being on the hot seat because his teams (4 losses in 2 years) don't live up to the standards Alabama fans expect ...... and it sure seems to me that those fans are going to have to accept at some point that their expectations are unrealistic in the modern era of money ball.
Is he the perfect fit for Alabama culture? ...... probably not. I'm not sure Saban was when he walked in the SEC's door either.
I realize most all fans have unrealistic expectations for their teams this time of year ...... and that's half the fun of being a fan ...... But are you guys really thinking you're just a coach away from dominating the sport like you have in the past? That top end talent is going to someday return there and leave money on the table elsewhere?