FROM THE PRESS BOX by JOE HALE | Alabama gets its man; now can he follow Saban?

University of Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne said shortly after word broke Wednesday that 72-year-old Nick Saban, the greatest college football coach we’ve ever seen, was retiring as head coach at Alabama that the next time we would be hearing from Byrne would be in 72 hours, when he would announce Saban’s successor.

Check your watches, err, clocks. It’s 48 hours now.

One of my best and longtime friends, George Whitley and I would make trips together on many a Friday evening, post January 2010, covering something we both loved dearly, almost as much as our families, I dare say, #txhsfb. Yeah, Friday Night Lights.

He was covering my alma mater, Kilgore, for the News-Journal and I was fortunate enough to get the chance to cover the Ragin’ Red for Mr. Phil Hicks at the Tyler paper.

You probably already know this, we are both a couple of Texas fanatics, following the goings-and-comings of the burnt orange.

George’s age and birthday were closest to Mack Brown and mine to the recently retired Saban. Not every week, but off-and-on, the subject would somehow sneak into our conversations. Anyway, we loved and respected both coaches and I would always say “Oh yeah my Uncle Nick.”

This was after Mack seemed to lose favor at UT and before Charlie Strong was hired on the Forty Acres. There were those rumors you remember of Terry (Saban) being seen looking at properties in and around Austin.

Saban, who won seven national titles (six at Alabama, passing Bear Bryant with the most, along the way), has said he still enjoyed coaching, but with all the other … none of us are getting younger. But, in this day of NIL, the transfer portal and keeping order in your own facility.

Who knows? Washington football coach Kalen DeBoer may well be the man. He just guided his Huskies to a 14-1 season and a loss to Michigan for the national championship on Monday night in Houston. He’s got the creds, and has enjoyed success wherever he’s been.

I know Oregon and Texas fans are happy their guys, Dan Lanning and Steve Sarkisian, stayed put. So did Mike Norvell at Florida State. He’s fine where he is. Clemson president Jim Dent breathed a sigh of relief also, adding, “Dabo’s (Swinney) our guy.”

What about Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. He has some time in the SEC now. He’s young and brash, but I like that. He was an OC for Saban at Bama and helped Saban recruit Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Amari Cooper. He wasn’t a “good fit” for Bama, according to Byrne.

Saban can easily move from coaching to being an analyst or speaker. I love his commercials with Deion.

Replacing legends isn’t easy. Remember Bryant himself, Darrell Royal, Pete Carroll or nowadays Brown, himself in Austin, to name a few.

Follow Joe on X(formerly Twitter): @joeyballgame.jh