The football coaching world has been in a frenzy in the past 24 hours, including Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban announcing his retirement. Now, students are taking to the campus streets and chanting against the possibility of the school hiring one particular candidate.
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Students chant “anyone but Dabo!” in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium. @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/3MPGDt7WQ9
— Brittany Decker (@BrittanyWVTM13) January 11, 2024
In the clip above, the student stands in front of the Nick Saban statue, saying, "Anyone but Dabo, say it with me."
From there, the students chanted alongside their classmates. Of course, they're referring to incumbent Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney.
The Tigers finished the season 9-4 after beating the Kentucky Wildcats 38-35 in the Gator Bowl. Swinney is regarded as a potential candidate to replace the legendary Saban.
Swinney, 54, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. His coaching career began in 1993 as a graduate assistant with Alabama and continued until 1995. From there, he worked in various roles within the program, including wide receiver and tight ends coach, before leaving coaching altogether, working for AIG Baker Real Estate, where he spent time on development projects throughout Alabama.
He returned to coaching in 2003 as Clemson's wide receivers coach before working his way up to head coach in 2008 as an interim. He was permanently hired for the 2009 season and has been there ever since. During his tenure as head coach of the Tigers, Swinney won multiple national championships, but the Tigers failed to win ten games for the first since 2010 this past season, and Swinney doesn't appear interested in engaging with the transfer portal and NIL.
With Saban out as head coach, many point to past Alabama staff members, including Swinney, Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, and Dan Lanning. Another potential candidate includes Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer, who led his program to the national championship but will now bid farewell to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze.
No matter what, though, the next head coach at Alabama has massive shoes to fill. Saban finishes his college football career as a seven-time national champion, including six with the Crimson Tide in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.
