Random thoughts while wondering whatever happened to Chico Maki:

So the Nick Saban traveling salvation show has hit the beach in Tuscaloosa while causing a fire storm everywhere else.  The NCAA worries about over paying coaches, the fans of Miami have trust issues and people everywhere wonder what expectations will have to be met to justify earning four million dollars a year.  After all, you can only have two national champions in college football every year.

There was some speculation that if Coach Satan didn't make the playoffs next year, the Dolphins would fire him and that leaving Miami kept him, to coin one of Saddam's favorite phrases, "one step ahead of the hangman's noose."

I don't  people have issue with Nick Saban for taking the Alabama job, just the dishonest and out and out deceitful way he handled it.   ESPN's Joe Theismann  makes a great deal of sense in this morning's Birmingham News when he says "How can he sit in a young man's living room with someone and talk about commitment to the university or commitment to the program when he hasn't made that kind of commitment to professional football like he said he would do?" 

There will be coaches, especially ones clad in orange, who will make the case in a blue chip's living room that Saban won't be around long enough at Alabama to matter.  If Alabama and LSU are fighting over a recruit in Louisiana, you don't think Les Miles is going to pull out the have Nick Saban  will travel card?  And, if you are a parent of a recruit and Nick Saban comes to your home and tells you he'll be around to take care of your son, would you be more likely to believe a) Coach Satan b) Donald Rumsfeld c) Scott Petersen or d) OJ.  I'd take my chances with OJ here to be honest with you.

Although Coach Satan received a hero's welcome in Tuscaloosa, in Miami he is nothing short of public enemy number one. The Miami Hearald's Dan La Batard wrote in his column that Saban was nothing short of a "loser, weasel and grease bag."  Former Dolphins coach Don Shula was also angry about Coach Satan's disappearing act snarling  "There were four or five direct statements that were blatant lies. That tells you a little bit about the guy.''  Of course, no one is quite sure if he was speaking as a ticked off Dolphins fan or a ticked off father.

La Batard continues: "He (Saban) will be remembered in these parts as a quitter and a liar. He leaves the franchise in last place, with what used to be his good name somehow far lower than that. He was, at the end, literally unbelievable. And for this he'll get a raise and more job security in Alabama. Makes you wonder what USC's Pete Carroll or Ohio State's Jim Tressel are worth."

Touché, Dan. Yeah what is Jim Tressel worth if Ohio State (as predicted in this column) wins the National Championship Monday night?  And how much is Pete Carroll worth to USC if  someone (Arizona) tries to entice him to return to the NFL?  Would USC pony up the cash to keep him? 

The Pandora's box opened by Mal Moore and Paul Bryant Junior will be felt in all corners of the college football world.  And to be quite honest, each of them will get a good night's sleep.

Bob Knight wins game 880.  Coaches salaries escalate through the roof.  Congress is investigating the NCAA's  non-profit status.  Myles Brand must be having a great week.  It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 

You can't be surprised at the LSU blowout of Notre Dame last night in the (Insert Sponsor Name Here) Sugar Bowl. If you followed the SEC this season, you'd know that LSU, hands down, was the best team in the league the second half of the season.  Yes, even better than the team playing Ohio State Monday night.

Did you see where the ratings for the Orange Bowl were below those of Law and Order Tuesday night?  Proof again America would rather see real crime as opposed to the crime that was Louisville vs. Wake Forest.

Rex Grossman admits he wasn't 100% focused Sunday night.  Gee Rex, even my dog knows that.  The bigger question is why didn't anyone else, like your head coach for example, notice?

Despite total disagreement from my wife, experts say the winter weather is milder across the country this year.  If this trend keeps up, maybe I will accept that job in Manitoba.

I haven't seen this many washed up has beens since the last MLB celebrity softball game.

And, at the Tower of London, the Tower's Yeoman Warders, commonly known as Beefeaters, have appointed the first female member to their ranks.  Always good to have a female Beefeater around, I suppose.