The El Mahico gentleman has a friend that is a coach of the football team. Very simply, that is the only source he has. This makes EM an excellent poster of the doings of the team itself - practices, team scuttlebutt, etc.But, let's stroll down the logical path a moment. Getting team and recruiting information is miles away from getting legitimate information of the internal workings of management. Employees (coaches) are not privy to what's going on in Bellmont (Patterson, Mack, Etc.). Sure, they hear rumors and speculation and they derive conclusions just like we do from these kinds of blogs. But, I can assure you that Mack Brown is not telling his coaches anything - just like he isn't telling the recruits. He simply cannot afford to tell them anything.
So, don't panic over EM's post - he is simply parroting what his coaching friend is telling him and his coaching friend doesn't know diddly squat either. I'm sure EM is a fine fellow and means well, but try to overlook the junk flying around right now and simply observe. He probably should do the same.
As far as the state of the program today? Here is my take, based on what I have observed:
1. If Nick Saban had no intention of leaving Alabama - he would have emphatically put that rumor to bed in Jan.
2. If Nick Saban wanted more money - he simply had to tell his agent and it would be done.
3. If Nick Saban wanted bad investments erased - he simply had to tell his agent and it would be done.
4. The Saban rumors have been flying around since Jan. - if Alabama wanted them put to an end, they would offer him a ridiculous extension.
5. If, in fact, they HAVE offered an extension, it is damned telling that Saban hasn't signed it.
6. If the CW is that Saban is too busy trying to win a natty and doesn't have time to jack with external distractions, I claim BS. He is too much of a detail cruncher to overlook his personal life.
7. Finally, the University of Texas has an extremely distressing habit of doing the exact opposite of what the fanbase expects, so take every rumor with a grain of salt and expect the unexpected.