Hope this was not posted previously.
The Saban Era Begins: The Process Of Building a Legacy and Defining an Era | Bleacher Report
The Saban Era Begins: The Process Of Building a Legacy and Defining an Era | Bleacher Report
Very good article on Coach Saban
- Thread starter ROLLTRIBE
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Great article! I never get tired of learning all the intricate details about Coach. He has accomplished alot but I get the feeling he has many more great things lying ahead of him in his legacy before he takes it easy at the lake.
This article covers Saban more thoroughly than anything else I have seen. Here are some points worth noting:
1. One of Saban's mentors was his coach at Kent State -- I think that's the connection -- Don James. Don James was known to be a Bear Bryant disciple. He almost won a national championship at the U of Washington, if I remember correctly. Jim Owens, who was Bear's assistant at Texas A&M (remember them?), was also a head coach at Washington.
2. I never had heard that Saban made a stop at Navy. That job requires a guy who is military-tolerant. Bob Knight coached at Army, if that gives you any perspective. No-nonsense type guys, right?
3. The article points out in a roundabout way that at 58 years old, Saban has had to go w-a-a-a-y around the block to get to where he is. By contrast, Bear Bryant's background at Alabama catapulted him to bigtime football at the U of Maryland when he was 32 years old, fresh out of the Navy and WW II.
4. Nick Saban had a broken leg at Kent State that kept him from playing most of his senior year. Bryant had a broken bone in his leg (against Tennessee) that didn't keep him from playing his senior year but probably was what kept him from winning all-conference or all-america honors.
5. The article points out that decrepit old Tiger Stadium and perhaps a refusal to improve it may have had something to do with Saban's leaving LSU. I read recently on Tigerrant a comment by an LSU fan in which he said that you have to wade water to use the restroom in Tiger Stadium. The stadium is full of broken windows on its exterior and old, musty unused rooms under the stands. Not so at Bryant-Denny -- A'ight?
1. One of Saban's mentors was his coach at Kent State -- I think that's the connection -- Don James. Don James was known to be a Bear Bryant disciple. He almost won a national championship at the U of Washington, if I remember correctly. Jim Owens, who was Bear's assistant at Texas A&M (remember them?), was also a head coach at Washington.
2. I never had heard that Saban made a stop at Navy. That job requires a guy who is military-tolerant. Bob Knight coached at Army, if that gives you any perspective. No-nonsense type guys, right?
3. The article points out in a roundabout way that at 58 years old, Saban has had to go w-a-a-a-y around the block to get to where he is. By contrast, Bear Bryant's background at Alabama catapulted him to bigtime football at the U of Maryland when he was 32 years old, fresh out of the Navy and WW II.
4. Nick Saban had a broken leg at Kent State that kept him from playing most of his senior year. Bryant had a broken bone in his leg (against Tennessee) that didn't keep him from playing his senior year but probably was what kept him from winning all-conference or all-america honors.
5. The article points out that decrepit old Tiger Stadium and perhaps a refusal to improve it may have had something to do with Saban's leaving LSU. I read recently on Tigerrant a comment by an LSU fan in which he said that you have to wade water to use the restroom in Tiger Stadium. The stadium is full of broken windows on its exterior and old, musty unused rooms under the stands. Not so at Bryant-Denny -- A'ight?
Here's a thought I don't think has crossed any LSU fans' minds:
At some point, Miles will wear out his welcome at LSU & be replaced. The only question is when.
When LSU finds itself back in the coach hiring business, and is shopping around, who do you think the first person any prospect will want to talk to? Saban, of course.
When Saban was hired at Bama, it was widely reported he had a talk or two about Alabama with Gene Stallings. Notice he didn't check with Fran or Shula, etc...he was only interested in talking to the last person who could handle the job.
So imagine an up and coming coach is considering taking the LSU job. He's not going to talk to any former LSU coaches but Saban, as Saban is the only one with any substantial success. (Yes, I know Miles has won big, but in this scenario he will have been let go.)
Will Saban diss the LSU job, given the over-the-top demonization he suffered from the LSU fans when he went to Bama? "Man, those people will turn on you on a dime, they forget anything good you might have done... don't touch that job. You can do better."
I expect Saban will give the LSU job a very good review, and talk about the positives. He's just that way.
But there's got to be a little irony in there...Saban will, I bet, be one of LSU's biggest boosters when they replace Miles. He will encourage a good coach to take the job. That, despite the venom directed at him from the LSU fan base.
At some point, Miles will wear out his welcome at LSU & be replaced. The only question is when.
When LSU finds itself back in the coach hiring business, and is shopping around, who do you think the first person any prospect will want to talk to? Saban, of course.
When Saban was hired at Bama, it was widely reported he had a talk or two about Alabama with Gene Stallings. Notice he didn't check with Fran or Shula, etc...he was only interested in talking to the last person who could handle the job.
So imagine an up and coming coach is considering taking the LSU job. He's not going to talk to any former LSU coaches but Saban, as Saban is the only one with any substantial success. (Yes, I know Miles has won big, but in this scenario he will have been let go.)
Will Saban diss the LSU job, given the over-the-top demonization he suffered from the LSU fans when he went to Bama? "Man, those people will turn on you on a dime, they forget anything good you might have done... don't touch that job. You can do better."
I expect Saban will give the LSU job a very good review, and talk about the positives. He's just that way.
But there's got to be a little irony in there...Saban will, I bet, be one of LSU's biggest boosters when they replace Miles. He will encourage a good coach to take the job. That, despite the venom directed at him from the LSU fan base.
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Good thoughts, CV...I hadn't thought of that before. Very interesting notion and one that I agree with.
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