He could still be the head coach at FSU in a couple of years while in the meantime earning more money as an OC at Bama. I fully expect that if Jimbo is going to Bama it will be for more money than LSU or FSU is willing to pay.
I honestly dont think thats it. He is making as much as any coordinator could expect here. Just seems he is not happy with someone or something or maybe just wants a change.
Interesting since the FSU camp is saying that Jimbo has already signed on with them. Apparently the FSU deal was done but Bama offered anyway. I think it was anywhere from $750k to $1 million. As for the timing, apparently this has been going on since sometime in November. The thing about the "feelers" early in the season is true but the wheels didn't "officially" start moving until after Shula was fired.
It wasn't clear but I wasn't suggesting that the reason he would leave was because of the money. I have repeatedly stated in the past that Jimbo is not happy with the situation with Miles. So, first and foremost, I believe that if and when Jimbo leaves it is because of the seeming conflict with Miles, and obviously the desire to land a head coaching job. What I was suggesting is that if he is, in fact, going to Bama as an OC (basically a lateral move), Bama will be paying more than LSU would have paid to keep him or FSU would have paid because, as you point out, he is currently making as much as any coordinator could expect here.
You might want to stop and consider how much Auburn recruits Ga and Fl...and to even think he can't get Bama to a pinnacle like you are suggesting shows a lot of ill-will towards Saban, and not much forethought about Alabama.
Saban, or any other HC for that matter, will be able to recruit effectively in the state of Alabama. For the most part, Alabama prospects split about evenly over a reasonable measure of time. This has been the case at Alabama, regardless of which coach they've had, and IMO it won't be any different with Saban. Where I believe Saban may have an advantage over other coaches who have recently been at bama will be in recruiting nationally. Having an MNC under your belt and a blue-chip staff will do that for you more often than not. Auburn will remain committed to recruiting its "fair share" from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida as they have done for decades. Not much changes here other than Bama finall getting a full compliment of schollies to work with. And besides, it would take Saban at least 3-4 years in a best case scenario to match the talent he had at LSU, and I don't think that topic is debatable. Even with that level of talent, Saban/Fisher went 2-3 against Tuberville and that includes the Auburn OC disaster that was 2003.
That stat means damn little since there were 5 games, 3 at Auburn. Tuberville was 3-0 versus Saban at home Saban was 2-0 against Tuberville at home. It's a wash.