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Nick Saban Comments On His Induction Into The LA Sports HOF, Says He Regrets Leaving LSU

by Staff Reporter

September 18, 201959 Comments

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

It was announced this week that former LSU and current Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been inducted into The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Saban will be one of eight inductees, along with Ronnie Coleman, Lou Dunbar, Joe Horn, Kerry Kittles, Phil Robertson, Charles Tilman, and Angela Turner headed into the 2020 Hall class on Saturday, June 27, in Natchitoches, Louisianna.

Saban, who coached at LSU from 2000-04 and won the BCS National Championship with the Tigers in 2003, recently spoke about his time in Baton Rouge and said if he could do it over again, he would have never left LSU for the Miami Dolphins job. Per The Daily Advertiser:

quote:
"I remember Richard Gill and Skip and I meeting in Skip's office," Saban said. "And I was really torn about it. And Skip said, 'You've just got to decide what you want your legacy to be. You want it to be as a college coach? Or do you want to try to make a name for yourself as a NFL coach?'

"And I really wanted to be a college coach, but I had it in the back of my mind all the time that the ultimate thing that you could accomplish in the profession was to be a head coach in the NFL. Don't ask me why. But that was just kind of there. And I thought, probably because of Wayne Huizenga (the late Dolphins' owner) that was the right one. He was a pretty good recruiter."

Saban soon realized he should have listened to the other recruiter, Bertman, as he was going 9-7 and 6-10 with the Dolphins.

"As it turns out, what I learned from that experience in hindsight was, it was a huge mistake to leave college football," Saban said. "And I know a lot of LSU fans think I left for whatever reasons, but I left because I wanted to be a pro coach, or thought I wanted to be a pro coach. We loved LSU. We worked hard to build the program. If there was one thing professionally that I would do over again, it would've been not to leave LSU." Read more.

Saban also talked about his Hall of Fame induction during the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday:

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SHMILL•56 months

Damn you, dammit.

mostbesttigerfanever•56 months

yeah, well, whatever

reauxl tigers•56 months

Saban is the world's worst ex girlfriend.

AnotherRound•56 months

I can hear him saying it, but in the version in my mind, there are way more pauses and "Aights"

FLObserver•56 months

I always thought it was widely known nick and his wife loved LSU. Wayne huizenga and the miami dolphins made him a offer he couldnt refuse and the rest as the say is history. Just wish the dolphins would have given nick one more year.

Shooter•56 months

Saban wasn’t fired. He quit!

DeafVallyBatnR•56 months

He regrets going to the NFL.

cadett•56 months

So shouldn't we hate the Dolphins more than Ala?

Tiger Prawn•56 months

Hard to hate the Dolphins because we're too busy laughing at them.

RedPop4•56 months

Not really. It was conventional wisdom that he wanted to go back to the NFL, that after building a championship program here, he would want to prove himself at the highest level of competition. Most understood it and knew even before he came to LSU. It was expected; his name was mentioned every November and December for years when NFL openings were discussed. Most were resigned to the fact that he would go, and it was his goal.

TwoDatBait•56 months

Would be funny to see them pull his nomination the night before the ceremony....

Play_Neck•56 months

Don't try to make us like you.

Lord_Ford•56 months

Baby come back you can blame it all on me

CHEDBALLZ•56 months

I was wrong, and I just cant live without you.

KCT•56 months

Just think what might've been. A lot of us already knew that Saban felt this way, but it still feels bittersweet to hear him acknowledge it publicly.

football101•56 months

Just think what would have been if Saban never came to LSU....that's why I don't mind him getting in. Maybe could've put him in 2 months after retiring though??

Big Scrub TX•56 months

Still hoping this is right before Newhart wakes up in his bed next to Saban...

AndrewD•56 months

Nice honor for Saban since he won't make the NFL Hall of Fame

TigerB8•56 months

screw him....don't even what him in the La Hall of Fame...bastard!

WeeWee•56 months

If he really regretted it then he should pull an Urban Myer and retire from Bama at the end of the year citing health reasons and then come back to LSU after a year as a broadcaster. If not then his statements about regretting leaving LSU are as empty as his statements about not being the head coach at Alabama, just the words that he is expected to say. Obviously that is sarcasm and will never happen. However, based on his results while he was the head coach at LSU he deserves it, but I think they should have waited until after he retired to induct him.

dellis337•56 months

Well, I hope he stubbs his toe on the steps at his house...

MrKnowItAll•56 months

I would be in favor of him being inducted posthumously..... not while he's still alive and kicking and still recruiting Louisiana players.

the paradigm•56 months

I never understood why LSU fans have so much animosity for what he did. He did what he felt was best for himself at the time. I moved to BR in 1989, and in the years leading up to Saban's arrival, LSU was certainly nothing special. He turned LSU into a powerhouse. Without him, LSU likely wouldn't be where it is today as a program. LSU's fans should be grateful, not resentful.

GeauxLSUGeaux•56 months

It’s not what he did while he was here, or that he left for the NFL. It’s that when he came back he went to a team that was in the same division. It really shouldn’t be that hard to understand.

Shiftyplus1•56 months

He lied about leaving, then 2 years later, came back to college coaching not just in the same conference, but the same division. If he'd have gone to like Ohio State, or even somewhere like Florida, the animosity wouldn't be there. But to come back so soon and to Alabama was too much.

ShlikStyck•56 months

His legacy is understandable, but what people probably still resent most is he's the one that's also solely responsible for LSU's lack of success since his arrival back to the College/SEC West/Alabama. Had he not come back, LSU would arguably have at least 3 more national championships and 7 more had he never left. Making LSU the dynasty of the millennium (NOT BAMA!)

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oleheat•56 months

GumpMelt in 3....2....1.....

oleheat•56 months

On a serious note, one day he will come back to Tiger Stadium with his 2003 team to honor them. I would like to think the Tiger Faithful will treat the man well. Despite the fact that he is a current adversary, he did indeed bring the program back from some very hard times. For that, I am grateful.

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