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Tigerpaul1969 
LSU Fan
The Woodlands, TX
Member since Jan 2010
1939 posts
| It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 3:58 pm)
I'm sure this topic has been discussed in prior threads over the years, but I haven't discussed it, so  . And, it's always fun to reminisce as we wait for the new season to start.
For some reason, I was drawn to watch these highlights of the beautiful 35-10 dismantling of the Hogs in 1999: 1999 LSU v Arkansas. I remember very well watching this game at a friend's house, and just hoping we would keep it close. When Rohan kept chunking the ball downfield, it was like a weight had been lifted off of that terrible season. It also ended an 8 game losing streak. Little did we know that the greatest era in LSU history lay just around the corner.
In this game lay the groundwork that Saban had the great opportunity to work with in 2000. Many of the stars of the 2000 Peach Bowl champs and 2001 SEC champs were on this 1999 team that for some reason never put everything together until DiNardo was fired after that horrific 20-7 loss to Houston the week before this game (it could be argued that the UAB loss the following year was equally horrific).
This isn't meant as a disparagement of Saban. I do consider him the best coach in college football (though I consider Miles to be roughly his equal, Jan. 9 notwithstanding). But, when you see the names and players on this 1999 squad, and how they thoroughly crushed one of Nutt's better Arky squads this day, you see that the foundation of the turnaround was already in place. This was an extremely young team, with Domanick Davis, Josh Reed and Rohan Davey getting their first playing time in 1999. These three were the nucleus of our great 2001 offensive team. Trev Faulk and Bradie James were just getting started. Ryan Clark was a sophomore on this team. This team also had, among others, Damien James, Jarvis Green, Rondell Mealey, Jerel Myers and Robert Royal.
Many people joke when they say this, but it is absolutely true that Saban inherited this team. He did very well, but the cupboard was not bare, as many assume because of our 3-8 record in 1999.
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CajunFootball 
USA Fan
Jackson, Mississippi
Member since Oct 2010
19420 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 3:59 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
CSB
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GarmischTiger
LSU Fan
Alexandria, Virginia
Member since Mar 2007
4931 posts
 Online
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:14 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
quote:
I'm sure this topic has been discussed in prior threads over the years
It has.
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la_birdman
LSU Fan
Lake Charles
Member since Feb 2005
14065 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:37 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
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omegaman66
LSU Fan
greenwell springs
Member since Oct 2007
6542 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:43 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
quote:
This isn't meant as a disparagement of Saban
Well then I have lost all respect for you. Screw satan and screw the diatoms.
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TexasTiger89
LSU Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Feb 2005
8181 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:46 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
It was a special game in my memory because it was the first game I brought my two kids to see. One was five and the other was two. My two year old fell asleep in the second half if you can believe it. Both love going to LSU games to this day.
I think you have a point about the talent of the program at that time.
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GarmischTiger
LSU Fan
Alexandria, Virginia
Member since Mar 2007
4931 posts
Online
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:49 pm to TexasTiger89)
Did you get four quarters out of your 2- and 5-year olds?
If so, you're a lucky man.
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noassatall01
LSU Fan
Kenner, LA
Member since Apr 2005
144 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 4:53 pm to la_birdman)
Where is Hal Hunter today?
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Tigerpaul1969
LSU Fan
The Woodlands, TX
Member since Jan 2010
1939 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 5:01 pm to noassatall01)
Hal Hunter just got named offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. He had been coaching their O-line for the last few years.
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MichiganTiger
LSU Fan
Where Global Warming is Welcomed!
Member since Dec 2004
7061 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 5:07 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
When we hired Saban it was my first year in Michigan. All the haters were telling me he wouldn't be able to turn us around and wondered why he would leave the good thing he had going at MSU. I immediately pointed out that we had loads of talent and was replacing a CEO HC who had lost his best support (coordinators). Saban took the job b/c he hit pay dirt...both in salary increase and talent. He knew that he could hit the ground running. That guy is shrewd...he's no dummy. It was good timing for LSU and Saban.
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The Egg
LSU Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Dec 2004
56067 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 5:15 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
it's never about talent at LSU, but rather the program's mindset. saban changed that on day 1.
agree that he inherited a bunch of quality talent and that helped a bunch, but you're going nowhere if you have a loser's mentality like his predecessors did.
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motorbreath 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Jun 2004
3314 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 5:17 pm to MichiganTiger)
Mark Emmert deserves almost as much credit for LSUs turnaround as saban IMO
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TexasTiger89
LSU Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Feb 2005
8181 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 5:24 pm to GarmischTiger)
quote:
Did you get four quarters out of your 2- and 5-year olds?
If so, you're a lucky man.
Hard to believe but yes. I just took them expecting a couple of quarters or leave in the third.
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mistert
Member since Jun 2011
253 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 7:36 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
When Saban arrived, he acknowledged the LSU FB Talent.
Like Arnsparger, arriving after Stovall had totally melted down our program and had gone 0-6 in the SEC, THEY TOOK "YOUR'N AND MADE 'EM HIS'N!!"
Saban was a young Arnsparger,and our program fluorishes when we have a A+ personality leader. Loosey Goosey is not compatible with the Louisiana Culture...but to hear some explain "good time Charlies", you'd think that's what we respect.
LSU fans are the "Party Animal Mentality Types," not the HC of FB. We need somebody who will "tend the shop," and take care of details and discipline.
It is your choice, if you choose to believe we have this or not. I never feel confident, with the type of leadership, we have now. LSU FB is serious business...........
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blackjackjackson
LSU Fan
fourth dimension
Member since May 2008
3444 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 7:40 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
this following post from timm 6/21 might soon become my sig line.
----------------------------------------------
LINK
Im sick of these people crediting nick sabin as something he is not,He left the patriots and went to michigan st labeled by espn as the belechek deciple, the genius behind belacheks throne! Well belachek has done quiet well with out him!As the trumpeted belachek deciple at michichigan state He improved them one game better his first season and I think he was two wins better his second and third season,somebody look it up, im old and lazy and flying on memory,the belachek deciple was hired by LSU cause espn gave him such a big name,they gifted him with 2 top ten recruiting classes one I think was top 5 class,meanwhile florida st and miami fell in the ncaa ditch and the traditiona florida st and miami fans from new oreleans sent their big star players to LSU for the first ime untold years becuse of the lack of scholorships and bowl games at the criminal institutes,If this sounds like sabin is the luckiest coach on earth he is,they were replaceing his sorry coaching butt at miami dolphins, when bama gave him a four million dollar bail out,armed with LSUs national championship and espn doing his recruiting,(remember that coach miles has to do his own recruiting often with espn working against him)lucky sabin has done well at bama,but the only thing better than luck is Coach Miles,who did in actuality build oklahomas program, defeating oklahome two years running, who else has done that?
timm6971463
LSU Fan
I should of pointed out in my previous post that coach miles took oklahoma st to a bowl game 4 years running with out losing when they had not been in a bowl game for six previous sesons.The program builder is coach miles,sabin has yet to build any thing but there is a lot to be said for winning!
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Rocket
Northwestern Fan
Member since Mar 2004
60983 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 8:05 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
quote:
But, when you see the names and players on this 1999 squad, and how they thoroughly crushed one of Nutt's better Arky squads this day, you see that the foundation of the turnaround was already in place
That foundation was rather flimsy. Those players didn't know how to win. It took a few years to get to where they thought they could beat anybody. Saban and his staff stayed on their asses and tought them how to win. Saban had a strong impact on this program in the few years he was here in every area of the program, and hiring Tommy Moffitt was huge.
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Phil2012
LSU Fan
The planet
Member since Dec 2005
1666 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 8:14 pm to Rocket)
Some of you guys will never get Shorty's Dyke out of your mouth...try a little mouthwash for a change...get over it...move on!!!!! Perhaps growing up and having a real life might help!!!!!
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Weaver 
Southeastern LA Fan
Mandeville, LA
Member since Nov 2005
19753 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 8:48 pm to Tigerpaul1969)
quote:
Damien James
Wtf happened to him? He was the leader of our defense in 2002 and either quit or got kicked off. Then the bottom fell out after the win at UF when mauck got hurt.
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The Boat
LSU Fan
:red:
Member since Oct 2008
47941 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 9:02 pm to Weaver)
The closed captioning for this video is hilarious.
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Rocket
Northwestern Fan
Member since Mar 2004
60983 posts
| re: It wasn't ALL Saban - tl;dr (Posted on 6/27/12 at 9:27 pm to motorbreath)
quote:
Mark Emmert deserves almost as much credit for LSUs turnaround as saban IMO
Some, but alot of people deserve credit. They didn't do it by themselves. It takes a lot of people and money to run a perennial collegiate football power.
This post was edited on 6/27 at 9:36 pm
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