re: How different would this conference be if Saban had never come to LSU?

Mark Emmert hired Saban. So at the end of the day, thank Mike Foster and Boysie Bollinger's family and self-generated wealth for putting Foster in office as the Governor of Louisiana.

Which enabled him to hand pick and hire Emmert to run LSU. Which enabled him to tell the BOS at LSU to STFU while he chose his own guy as HC.

Saban became uber successful by being able to end around the AD and answer directly to Emmert. Emmert was the only guy who could take our Compliance Director and stick him in the Ticket Office when Saban complained.

So, long story short: Mike Foster is the father of the modern path of the SEC since 2000...