I hope you're right. If so, the walls probably really are crumbling. It would be unusual to have sustained success while catering to the prima donnas. I thought that only worked long term in the NFL.
Doesn't even work in the NFL and yeah, it's cracking.
I've been around coaches and coaching styles long enough to have a general idea of what works and what doesn't.
Dictatorial regimes (which Alabama is) tend to do well at first and then crumble over the long term. It takes a ton of effort and attention to detail to maintain absolute control. At first it works because you come into a situation where people are desperate enough or hungry enough that they're willing to tolerate whatever you dish out if it changes their circumstances. If the change doesn't happen immediately, of course everyone thinks you're an ass and you get run quickly. If you get results, you are hailed as a messiah. But absolute control is an illusion. No one can hold that tight to all things for all time. Eventually you're dealing with a crisis at home and winter on the Russian front and people start to leave, turn on you, question your decision making. Another aspect of the dictatorial regime is playing favorites. Dictators always have pets. This works at first because everybody strives to be a pet. Over the longer term it builds resentment because the simple fact is that everybody can't be a pet. And it falls apart. These can work and work well in the short term, but they can't sustain over the long haul.
At the other end of the spectrum is the short-term buddy, buddy you're my pal coach. This also works in the short term because players feel empowered, they buy in to the idea that they've got some control and say in their future. This fails long term because no matter what they think, the monkeys cannot run the zoo. The coach loses control because he loses respect. Discipline is arbitrary and again, pets come into play. Some players are better pals with the coach than others. Resentment builds. Chaos ensues. Usually the staff fractures first, so you can see the tsunami coming.
The only thing that works long term is a coach who maintains respectful distance from the players, who clearly separates the role of being in charge from being their "friend", who defines his role and the fact that he is responsible for and to them, and makes sure they understand that discipline is his duty. He has to deal with all players honestly and fairly. Has to establish that the word "fair" does not always mean "equal." Has to act decisively. Doesn't ever throw players under the bus to hide his own shortcomings or mistakes.
Frankly, though, the game-planning and technical skill is less important than the rest. Doesn't really matter what kind of defense or offense you run, the key is how you handle everything else personnel related.
All of these personality types have to have a plan. They have to understand how offense and defense works and how to build a program that effectively implements their plans.
Coaching is a lot like soap. Hold it too tight (Saban) and it's going to eventually squeeze from your grasp. Hold it too loosely (Chizik maybe?) and it falls to the floor.
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