All kudos to Saban for rebuilding Bama to the top of college football, but Bama's success has been so great that it has caused people to forget how... mediocre is unfair, but not elite is fair, before Saban:
In the six coaches and 25 seasons between Bear and Saban, Bama won 9 or fewer games 16 times. Bama actually had a losing record 5 times. Think about Alabama going 5-7. During that stretch Bama finished the season in top 4 (essentially CFP qualifier territory) only once in 25 years. Alabama is a small population state, and although football crazy, it does not produce the football talent that GA, FL, TX or even LA or Ohio does. Not saying Bama will suck, but it's considered an elite job, only because of Saban's amazing run. The wrong hire, and Bama becomes... Auburn.