Spare us.
Saban was a flop in the NFL, but his name holds powerful respect with recruits. He has a leg up on any other coach before he ever picks up the phone. When that letter arrives from Alabama it might as well say, "University of Saban," because that is exactly why these kids are lining up to play there.
Gruden has more pop star credentials than Saban could ever dream of. Plus the guy is a great football mind on top of that.
-Gruden would win because he will have cred before he ever mails the first letter. Kids will get all giddy when they see that UT on the return address, knowing that Gruden's signature is on the letter. When they hear that voice on the phone, it's the same one that does color on MNF, and sits at the table and breaks down film with Luck and Cam. If you can't see the appeal of that, then stick with Dooley, because you are completely delusional if you think that gomer has any such position.
Gruden will win because other coaches will crawl over one another to be on his staff. They know his infectious personality and love of the game.
Gruden will win because he loves football. He loves making players better.
Gruden would succeed because he did it working for one of the most interferring owners in the world, and still built a team into a super bowl contender.
And the best part is he isn't a snivling little pr*** like Saban. This is a guy who seems to have a genuine love for the game and the young men who play it. Not some narcissistic, condescending butt hole of man who treats people like garbage.
Gruden will endure himself to the fans because he would never see himself as bigger than the UT program. He would succeed for all the above reasons and then some. Only a blind person would deny it.
