He's the Messiah of LSU football. That's all we need to know.

The story of LSU football's coaches for the past 20 years has essentially been "How do we replace Charlie McClendon?"

McClendon didn't bring us any NC's. He brought us 13 bowls in 18 years, 5 top 10 finishes, 10 top 25 finishes, and 2 losing seasons. Never an NC. Not exactly a Bear Bryant - but he coached for 18 years and its taken longer than that to find a coach better than him.

80-83 - Jerry Stovall - was named the Walter Camp coach of the year in '82. He beat #4 Florida, #7 FSU, and #8 Bama, and lost in the Orange by one point to #3 Nebraska. The following year he went 0-6 in the SEC and was fired.

84-86 Arnsparger - had three losses per year (counting ties as half losses) and brought us to a bowl every year. Then he ditched us and recommended we give Mike Archer the job

87-90 Archer - went 10-1-1 his first season. 8-4 his next season. Went 4-7 and 5-6 the next two and was fired and replaced with...

91-94 HE WHOSE NAME SHALL NOT BE SPOKEN - THE DARK YEARS OF LSU FOOTBALL - NO MORE EXPLANATION NEEDED

95-99 DiNardo - the beginning of the beginning of LSU's Golden Age - not the best coach in the world but he lifted us out of the dark ages. After 6 years of no bowl games, LSU made it into the Independence in his first year, then Peach, then Independence, then went downhill his last two years. Was fired in 99 after going 1-5 in the SEC and 3-8 overall.

2000-2004 The Saban Era - The Golden Age of Tiger Football begins - Saban is a great coach. You Gumps are lucky. But don't think for a minute that he doesn't regret leaving LSU. Don't think for a minute that when he was shaking Les's hand Saturday night he wasn't thinking "I'd rather be wearing purple and gold and lose to Bama than be a Gump". He'll regret leaving for the rest of his life. Would you rather coach a school whose Golden Age ended a couple decades ago - or a school whose Golden Age is just getting underway?

2005- The Miles era. 'Nuff said

This post was edited on 11/14/08 at 9:56 am