re: A former college and NFL coach for 40 years was asked who the 5 greatest

quote:

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Suppose it was just the BCS. Does Bear get to play Texas after the 1977 season? Does Alabama win?

1978- Would Bama still get to play PSU or would it be USC who had beaten Bama in Birmingham against Penn St.?

1979 instead of Arkansas Bama would have played #1 OSU. Again does Bama win?


In 2016 Saban would have played OSU. With the officiating in that game who knows what the outcome would have been.

Personally, I think both coaches geared the style/philosophy to the Era they coached in. And both would have been successful in any era.

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That's really my point. In the BCS and CFP systems, Saban had an opportunity to win it on the field as long as he finishes in the top two or four. Bryant was guaranteed no such opportunity. Getting a 1-2 matchup in the era of bowl-conference tieins was almost impossible.

I agree that both were the greatest of their eras, and comparing their eras is almost apples & oranges. If someone holds a gun to my head and makes me pick one, I'll say Saban.