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How did we all know Saban was a sure thing?
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:42 pm
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:42 pm
I remember his hiring was announced the day LSU smoked Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. This cemented Jamarcus as the top pick, gave Les another 11-2 season, and the Tigers were riding high.
I knew the hiring was big, but it was assumed Bama was going to be back almost instantly.
His record at Michigan State was 34-24-1. He took over for George Perles who did good things at MSU, notable winning the Rose Bowl in ‘88. He did leave the program in the shitter, with a 19-26 record over his last 4 years.
Saban goes to LSU. Instantly turns around the Tigers. You could safely say that LSU had some talent, and hindsight would say that they were a sleeping giant.
While he didn’t entirely suck at Miami, he wasn’t great, but remained splashy for college...obviously. I think the Bama program he took over was a little less talented than the one he inherited in BR.
With all of that said, was it more of his on field results or his charisma that had us fans thinking he was a sure fire success? I don’t think any of us would have predicted 5 nattys and competing for the title almost every year, but still...people knew what was coming.
I knew the hiring was big, but it was assumed Bama was going to be back almost instantly.
His record at Michigan State was 34-24-1. He took over for George Perles who did good things at MSU, notable winning the Rose Bowl in ‘88. He did leave the program in the shitter, with a 19-26 record over his last 4 years.
Saban goes to LSU. Instantly turns around the Tigers. You could safely say that LSU had some talent, and hindsight would say that they were a sleeping giant.
While he didn’t entirely suck at Miami, he wasn’t great, but remained splashy for college...obviously. I think the Bama program he took over was a little less talented than the one he inherited in BR.
With all of that said, was it more of his on field results or his charisma that had us fans thinking he was a sure fire success? I don’t think any of us would have predicted 5 nattys and competing for the title almost every year, but still...people knew what was coming.
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Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:44 pm to TexasTiger08
You knew when he was at MSU that he was a coach who knew what he was doing, just needed the right school. LSU was it, and then of course Bama made it a many ring career.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:50 pm to TexasTiger08
Everyone who wasn't bitter knew he'd recruit like a mad man and that Alabama would be very solid and have great players, probably be in the top part of the SEC relatively quickly and a Top 10 program.
The rosiest Alabama expectations were we'd win a national title or 2, win 9-10 games in the down years and Saban would leave the next guy tons of NFL talent in 6-7 years.
Nobody knew he'd be the model of elite consistency that he's been for a decade plus. Anybody who says otherwise is using revisionist history. He was a better coach after his stint in the NFL than he was before he left LSU.
The rosiest Alabama expectations were we'd win a national title or 2, win 9-10 games in the down years and Saban would leave the next guy tons of NFL talent in 6-7 years.
Nobody knew he'd be the model of elite consistency that he's been for a decade plus. Anybody who says otherwise is using revisionist history. He was a better coach after his stint in the NFL than he was before he left LSU.
This post was edited on 10/26/20 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:53 pm to TexasTiger08
He was a recruiting machine at LSU and had his going in the right direction.
Combining that with Alabama’s tradition (of cheating) and he was a no brained big time hire.
Combining that with Alabama’s tradition (of cheating) and he was a no brained big time hire.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:54 pm to TexasTiger08
quote:
With all of that said, was it more of his on field results or his charisma that had us fans thinking he was a sure fire success? I don’t think any of us would have predicted 5 nattys and competing for the title almost every year, but still...people knew what was coming.
I think that depends on who you talk to. There are still old threads on TigerDroppings full of people laughing at the hire. Auburn fans were amused, too.
ETA: Tiger Rant link even into October of his first season... LINK
This post was edited on 10/26/20 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:55 pm to Tuscaloosa
quote:
Auburn fans were amused, too.
"Tubs owns him!"
Posted on 10/26/20 at 4:59 pm to TexasTiger08
quote:
How did we all know Saban was a sure thing?
The radio jocks on sports talk in Jax ridiculed his hiring at LSU. Mike Bianchi who was a writer for the Jacksonville paper said it was another terrible hire by LSU. It was the classic “a Big 10 guy won’t translate to the SEC” line. Bianchi mocked Nick because he said “Southeast Conference” instead of Southeastern Conference.
Frank Frange, now the Jaguar PBP guy, and a popular radio host also shite on the hire.
This post was edited on 10/27/20 at 6:48 am
Posted on 10/26/20 at 5:03 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
recruiting machine at LSU
This is how I knew. I remember him beating us for a lot of talent out of Bama at LSU.
Never knew he'd be that good though. I knew he equal the talent gap instantly and he did.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 5:05 pm to TexasTiger08
Above all Saban is a good recruiter, which includes not only getting the 5 stars but also evaluating talent. Also managing his roster.
Let's face it Alabama cheats like no one else and he could load up the roster easier there than just about anywhere.
In the NFL where you can't just out talent people he wasn't horrible but not great. In recent years he hasn't just out talented very few teams, but those few with similar rosters have beaten him.
Let's face it Alabama cheats like no one else and he could load up the roster easier there than just about anywhere.
In the NFL where you can't just out talent people he wasn't horrible but not great. In recent years he hasn't just out talented very few teams, but those few with similar rosters have beaten him.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 5:07 pm to r2d2
quote:
Let's face it Alabama cheats like no one else
The school of Will Wade and paying football players with Children's Hospital money everybody!
Posted on 10/26/20 at 5:07 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
SummerOfGeorge
Everyone who wasn't bitter knew he'd recruit like a mad man and that Alabama would be very solid and have great players, probably be in the top part of the SEC relatively quickly and a Top 10 program.
The rosiest Alabama expectations were we'd win a national title or 2, win 9-10 games in the down years and Saban would leave the next guy tons of NFL talent in 6-7 years.
Nobody knew he'd be the model of elite consistency that he's been for a decade plus. Anybody who says otherwise is using revisionist history.
Damn SOG, you nailed that.
I believe a lot was due to him being heralded as a recruiting master and a defensive guru.
I was extremely surprised by the 2008 12-0 reg season and that was when I knew he was absolutely legit as a coach. The 2019 team was one of his best coaching jobs in his tenure.
After the 2010 debacle (losing 3 games - the most ex his 07 first year)all the talk was he would bolt in another year or two and that Gus would run him out of town. Well then 2011 and 2012 happen. Next up 2015 and 2017 happen cementing him as a top 5 historical coach.
I expect he will get at least 1 more NC before he retires in 2025. Not sold on 2020 (OSU & Clemson are both equally as good). 2021 breaking in a new QB and WRs but 2022 year 3 of B Young looks to be a good bet based on recruiting and team talent makeup. After that who the frick knows.
Can he get to 7 at Bama? Sure can but it's really tough and there are several really great other teams that will have that year that clicks (see lsu 2019)
Posted on 10/26/20 at 5:08 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
Alabama’s tradition (of cheating)
Posted on 10/26/20 at 6:48 pm to paperwasp
I remember sitting in a BBQ restaurant in Bham the day it was announced. I was eating lunch with a partner in the firm I was working for, big Auburn guy, and he said just give Bama 3 championships soon. I knew of Saban at LSU but didn’t realize it was that big of a hire.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 7:02 pm to TexasTiger08
I felt like we'd be elite again. That we'd be in that company--that we would once again compete with the elite in the SEC. That was confirmed when Julio signed. Then the Clemson game. Then the blackout vs UGA. Then going undefeated up until Florida in '08.
But on the whole? I think the outcome certainly blew away my expectations. And to think a bounce here and there it might have been more than 5 even.
It's been absurd.
But on the whole? I think the outcome certainly blew away my expectations. And to think a bounce here and there it might have been more than 5 even.
It's been absurd.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 7:05 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
He was a recruiting machine at LSU and had his going in the right direction.
Combining that with Alabama’s tradition (of cheating) and he was a no brained big time hire.
So he had to cheat to recruit well at Bama (after he already had a nat'l title and nfl hc stint)but not LSU (after he was a mediocre Big10 coach at MSU)?
Posted on 10/26/20 at 7:08 pm to TexasTiger08
I remember at the time Saban was hired it was rumored that Steve Spurrier was in the running for the job. We could have taken him from South Carolina if we wanted him bad enough. That was actually who I was pulling for just knowing his previous success at Florida. Stupid me! I'm glad I didn't have a part of the decision making.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 7:12 pm to Number1Gump
I recall a certain intoxicated person who thought he was awesome the minute he got off the plane.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 7:59 pm to JohnnyU
quote:
The radio jocks on sports talk in Jax ridiculed his hiring at LSU. Mike Bianchi who was a writer for the Jacksonville paper said it was another terrible hire by LSU. It was the classic “a Big 10 guy won’t translate to the SEC” line. Bianchi mocked Nick because he said “Southeast Conference” instead of Southeastern Conference. Frank Frange, now the Jaguar PBP guy, and a popular radio host also shite in the hire.
I remember that shite... somehow those idiots a still employed in sports talk here in Jax.
Posted on 10/26/20 at 8:05 pm to TexasTiger08
Matt Mauck went pro after 2003, very dumb decision, but more importantly left us with redshirt freshman Jamarcus Russell and Marcus Randall (very bad fit for Jimbo's offense) in 2004. Even with that, LSU was a bizarre extra point rule at Auburn away from probably repeating as SEC champions. He was obviously building a monster here. When he went to Bama he could flash his NC ring and pro experience to boot (if he had gotten Breed instead of Culpeper he would've succeeded in Miami)
Posted on 10/26/20 at 8:15 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
paying football players with Children's Hospital money everybody!
It wasn't a children's hospital, but anyway Funes was analogous to Logan Young for Bama; a rogue booster. His hospital reported him after financial irregularities were discovered and he's in prison now.
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