EVEN NICK SABAN CAN’T FIX THIS ALABAMA PROBLEM

By David Sher

Nick Saban has had a profound impact on the University of Alabama and our State.

The hiring of Coach Saban will likely go down as one of the best hiring decisions in college sports’ history.

Who could have predicted that the University of Alabama would ultimately follow up Coach Bear Bryant, likely the greatest college football coach of his time, with another football coach who maybe the greatest college football coach of all?times?

Coach Saban led the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and College Football Playoff championships in 2015, 2017 and 2020. He has won seven national titles as a head coach, the most in college football history.

People all over the U.S., whether they are football fans or not, know the name ‘Saban’ and associate him with the University of Alabama and the State of Alabama.

His impact on the University of Alabama’s student count has been profound.

In 2006,?the enrollment at U of A?was?23,878. The university now has?38,320?students—an increase of more than?60%?with?58%?of its undergraduates coming from out of state.

You would think that many of these young men and women would enjoy their experience in Alabama and want to build their career’s here.

However, our state??loses 80% of these U of A graduates.

By the way,?41% of Auburn’s undergraduates come from out of state?and the State of Alabama loses more than?80%?of them also.

And most people probably aren’t aware that?73%?of Samford University in Birmingham undergraduates come from out of state. According to a recent analysis, between 2011-2021, only?18%?of all their students whose home states were outside of Alabama decided to remain in Alabama employed or in graduate school after graduation.

Earlier in the year I attended a talk by Greg Barker, President of the?Economic Development Partnership of Alabama?(EDPA). The EDPA is a private, non-profit organization committed to the economic growth of Alabama.

During the question and answer portion of his talk an audience member asked, “What is the biggest impediment to the State of Alabama from an economic development standpoint?”

Barker responded, “The biggest challenge far and away is?labor. Whatever is second is a long way from that. But labor is the biggest issue–labor of all kinds. Predominantly having well-prepared labor force here in Alabama is a challenge.”

Well, there you have it.

A shortage of well-prepared labor is by far Alabama’s biggest economic development problem and our colleges and universities bring these students to our state and then prepare them to build their careers outside the state.

Coach Saban is certainly doing his part by creating the best college recruitment program in America.

But he’s not responsible for keeping our young folks here.

That is our responsibility.

Nick Saban wins recruits and national championships through his emphasis on ‘the process.’

We must develop a coordinated strategic?process?to retain our well trained talent to avoid losing them to our competition.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of?ComebackTown.?He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Click?here?to sign up for our newsletter.?(Opt out at any time)

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected].

#Alabama #University of Alabama #Auburn #Samford