Flashback: November 1999

Thank you for digging this up and posting this. Some idiot this morning in thread was claiming that Dean carried 90% of the weight in the coaching search and hire of Saban and some were agreeing with him. I didn't get into to deal but I clearly remember it differently.

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Remember when Joe drove his Lincoln Town Car into University Lake? I remember.

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Dude was a low functioning drunk. They used joke about it on the coaches show. I remember Dinardo saying more than once that Dean offered him a ride a few times but he new better than to get into a car with Joe behind the wheel.

I read that Dean balked at Saban's asking price. Dean told Emmert "I think I can get this guy for less."

Emmert, tired of Dean and his nickel and dime bullshite told him "Pay the man his money and get him on campus."

It's always surprised me when people say they didn't know who Nick Saban was when LSU hired him. Maybe they only follow SEC football.

I was very aware of Saban when he was at Michigan State, and thought he was a terrific coach. I just didn't think he would want to coach in the South, and LSU would have no chance to hire him. I was beyond thrilled when they did.

Likewise, I was very aware of Joe Burrow when he was at Ohio State. Because Dwayne Haskins had been rumored to make a recruiting visit to LSU (never happened) I had checked the Ohio State roster, since he was considering them. Burrow was on the roster, I watched some video of him and came away very impressed. When I saw he was transferring, I thought it was too good to be true.

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This allowed Bertman to hire Saban’s replacement, and it wasn’t a very inspiring process or final choice.

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Yeah but the 2004/2005 coaching search is a story in of itself. It’s hard to get good candidates when your head coach announces he is leaving on Christmas night.

The Saban announcement came out of no where.

No one was talking about him.

I was disappointed, I mean Gerry beat him in the bowl game the year before.

I had the opportunity to meet with Saban soon afterwards and thought what a a-hole/arrogant SOB.

Saban was a no nonsense machine that rubbed many the wrong way.

That was me and I stand by it because I knew two members of the BOS who were intimately involved. Emmert unlike other Chancellor got involved only as much as unlike other Chancellors, like Wharton he wanted to be kept in the loop. But it was Dean who did most of the negotiating and floated it all through Weems and Gill first since they were the guys who would have to say OK to the money. Also nothing with football in those days was OK unless you had the blessing of Charles Cusimano. He had a ton of influence on the board since he had been on it since the 70's .

Dean knew that the price for Saban was going to be in the million and up range and Gill had told him that he could make a deal at 900 -1.3 million. Anything higher would have to be looked at by Gill who ran TAF. Everyone who left Memphis that afternoon knew they had a deal, just some of the details had to be looked at. But Dean and Gill recommended Saban that day after meeting with him at Sexton's house. Weems did to but said they should run it by Cusimano first....back then as went Cusimano so went the BOS.Emmert was all for the hire as well but since he was relatively new wanted to get Cusimanos blessing. They got back in and Cusimano had a few questions that got answered. The next morning Dean called Emmert with the deal. Emmert wanted to know the buyout provision. Dean had it too low....Emmert suggested a little more Dean said OK and the deal was made.

Saban could have been announced that night but slowed it down because he wanted to tell McPherson what he was doing and McPherson did not call back until late on Monday morning

So yes Emmert was more involved than previous Chancellor had ever been. But really if it was not for Sean Tuohy catching hold of Dean that day this never happens and if Richard Gill did not say that TAF could come up with the money it does not happen and if Weems does not convince Cusimano that this would be a good hire it does not happen. But Dean did most of the work, did most of the negotiating and from what I heard asked most of the questions. But like I said this came from 2 members of the BOS one of which was Cusimano

I will admit that I went through looking at all D1 HC, OC and DCs looking for possibilities and I didn’t think he’d have any interest in leaving Michigan State for us.