Jumbo Package: Debate over greatest team ever rolls on as coaching carousel turns

Happy Friday, everyone. We now know who will be entering the draft early, and here’s what Nick Saban had to say about them.

“Each one of these guys are on track to graduate. Each one of them has made a promise to me that they will finish their degree programs — Mac already has a masters degree. But we’re very proud of the fact that these guys have been great people in the organization, they’ve been great students, they’re all career-oriented and they’ve made a great contribution to the development of their careers as football players.

“We’re very proud of each one of these guys and they’re always going to be a part of the University of Alabama and the program here. We’re going to be here to help them with all future endeavors in everything they try to do. We wish them very much success and luck in the future.”

This team was special in so many ways.

ESPN took a swing at answering this scientifically with the SP+ ratings. Using this formula, Alabama’s 2020 team had the best college football team dating back to 1883. The 99.718 percentile pushed the Tide over the 1959 Syracuse team that previously held the top spot.

Alabama 2020 and LSU 2019 had very similar offensive statistics, but again, this is a debate with no indisputable answer.

The only true objective — outside of navigating the global pandemic that threatened the games from even starting — was to be the best in this patchwork season.

We will remember them as we should: as the greatest team in CFB history.

Ross Dellenger has some inside information about some of the Tide’s injury issues against Ohio State. Great reporting here.

He also has some notes in there on Jaylen Waddle playing through the pain and Mac Jones with his bruised leg. Toughness was not an issue for this team.

Joseph Bulovas decided that it was time to go.

Bulovas will finish his time at Alabama with a career success rate of 75.9 percent on field goals (22 of 29). One of the misses though was a critical missed field goal near the end of the 2019 Iron Bowl, which the Tide ultimately lost 48-45.

We will be on watch for his destination to be announced.

In coaching news, you may have heard that Urban Meyer will be coming out of retirement like an old boxer again, this time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of course this affects Alabama.

Can’t fault Charlie for moving from an analyst role in Tuscaloosa to what is assumed to be a NFL DC position. Still, there could be an opening here.

I know some of you are cheering this news, and you should be ashamed of yourselves. We will see if Saban wishes to retain Pete.

Last, Colin Cowherd wants to know why nobody ever calls Saban for NFL jobs.

Gotta respect the hustle to get Nick out of college football here, but if teams don’t call anymore it’s because he has been clear about his intent to retire in Tuscaloosa.

That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.

Roll Tide.