- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Story goes Saban told agent he wanted to coach at LSU following the 95 Independence Bowl
Posted on 10/20/21 at 8:58 am
Posted on 10/20/21 at 8:58 am
Saw the size and quality of athletes, saw the state support, passion of fan base, and remarked something to the effect of LSU should and would be winning national championships with the right coach. He could never do in East Lansing what LSU could do in Baton Rouge. We know what happened a few years later.
When was the last time LSU blew out a team with an up-and-coming impressionable coach in a bowl game?
When was the last time LSU blew out a team with an up-and-coming impressionable coach in a bowl game?
9
Posted on 10/20/21 at 8:58 am to jbraua
ISWYDT
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:03 am to jbraua
Are you my business partner? He was saying the EXACT same thing yesterday. i.e. that it wasn't LSU that had to sell Saban on them...it was Saban selling LSU on him.
Remember, Saban wasn't a very "hot name" following the 1999 season (though it was his best at MSU). He saw the scores of great athletes in the south, the emphasis the schools put on athletics, and knew his ticket to big success was getting down here. The LSU job just happened to be one that was open.
Remember, Saban wasn't a very "hot name" following the 1999 season (though it was his best at MSU). He saw the scores of great athletes in the south, the emphasis the schools put on athletics, and knew his ticket to big success was getting down here. The LSU job just happened to be one that was open.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:04 am to jbraua
I RILEY like what you're doing here.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:05 am to jbraua
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:07 am to Alt26
quote:
Remember, Saban wasn't a very "hot name" following the 1999 season
This isn’t really true, he already had NFL teams sniffing around him. People here just weren’t as familiar with him as they’d be now with all the information we have at our fingertips these days
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:10 am to jbraua
We went to that Indy Bowl. On the day before the game they held a pep rally in the auditorium by the River. The bands, cheerleaders, and fans for both teams were all invited. Naturally MSU fans were outnumbered 100 to 1.
Saban led his team through a throng of LSU fans and walked near us. His hair was dark and he combed it back in a 70s look. He looked like his eyes were going to pop out. The crowd was noisy and intimidating. LSU fans were starving for success and the Indy Bowl was a huge deal. Saban had to have felt the energy. No doubt we helped sell him on LSU.
Saban led his team through a throng of LSU fans and walked near us. His hair was dark and he combed it back in a 70s look. He looked like his eyes were going to pop out. The crowd was noisy and intimidating. LSU fans were starving for success and the Indy Bowl was a huge deal. Saban had to have felt the energy. No doubt we helped sell him on LSU.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:18 am to Alt26
quote:
Saban wasn't a very "hot name" following the 1999 season
Guess how I know you didn't follow college and NFL football very much.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:20 am to jbraua
quote:
When was the last time LSU blew out a team with an up-and-coming impressionable coach in a bowl game?
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:31 am to jbraua
Nice angle, but the only problem I see is Norman is not East Lansing. He can do just as much in Norman as he can in Baton Rouge. They're already headed to the SEC so that will help with recruiting. I'm not buying it.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:51 am to lsufb1912
quote:
He can do just as much in Norman as he can in Baton Rouge.
Please provide me with the long list of recent NFL talent on the defensive side that the Sooners have produced. TIA.
quote:
They're already headed to the SEC so that will help with recruiting.
We heard the same thing concerning Texas A&M. How many SEC Championships & CFP appearances do they have from the recruiting advantages of moving to the SEC?
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:55 am to Alt26
quote:
it was Saban selling LSU on him.
When Saban and Sexton met with LSU in Memphis. He told them you build me a football only facility, Student academic center etc I will win a Natty within 5 years. LSU did what he wanted and he delivered in 4 years.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 10:00 am to BigBrod81
Oklahoma has never been known for having a great defense since Riley has been there. I'm sure I could find a few though.
That's like asking to provide the long list of recent heisman candidate, First rd NFL QB's from LSU.
Sure, LSU has 1. OU has one every year.
2nd of all, A&M was never on the level of OU/Texas. To add to that point though, the SEC has absolutely helped A&M with recruiting.
That's like asking to provide the long list of recent heisman candidate, First rd NFL QB's from LSU.
Sure, LSU has 1. OU has one every year.
2nd of all, A&M was never on the level of OU/Texas. To add to that point though, the SEC has absolutely helped A&M with recruiting.
This post was edited on 10/20/21 at 10:01 am
Posted on 10/20/21 at 10:24 am to jbraua
quote:
When was the last time LSU blew out a team with an up-and-coming impressionable coach in a bowl game?
Kliff Kingsbury, come on down!
Posted on 10/20/21 at 10:35 am to Ponchy Tiger
quote:
Guess how I know you didn't follow college and NFL football very much
In 1999 Saban had just finished his most successful season at Michigan St., having a barely over .500 record in his previous 4 seasons there. He wasn't a "hot name" at the time. He really wasn't even talked about much here as a potential candidate. In fact, much of the LSU fan reaction was ambivalent when he was hired...with most questioning the agreement to make the guy LSU blew out in the Independence Bowl one of the top 5 highest paid HCs in all of college football.
His career highlights to that point were the DC of a mostly average to bad Cleveland Browns team, and a mostly average record at MSU. All involved with LSU have stated many times it was Saban (really, Jimmy Sexton) who reached out to LSU...not the other way around. Perhaps "football insiders" thought much more of him than the general public. But you are using revisionist history if you think Saban was a hot name when LSU hired him.
A lot of the reaction from LSU fans when it was announced he was the hire was "Wait...who?"
Posted on 10/20/21 at 11:40 am to BigBrod81
quote:
We heard the same thing concerning Texas A&M. How many SEC Championships & CFP appearances do they have from the recruiting advantages of moving to the SEC?
Exactly.
Also might be an easier sell for southern defensive recruits to come to Louisiana over Oklahoma, but that's just a thought. I recognize he does have one elite DL from Florida on board ATM.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 11:40 am to Alt26
quote:Yeah he was. He and Ferentz were the two guys that were talked about; both were considered strong detail-oriented guys who could become elite coaches.quote:
Guess how I know you didn't follow college and NFL football very much
In 1999 Saban had just finished his most successful season at Michigan St., having a barely over .500 record in his previous 4 seasons there. He wasn't a "hot name" at the time.
Ferentz never left Iowa. Saban moved around, and went up the ladder each time (except for his NFL disaster).
quote:That's because he wasn't "Southern Football"
In fact, much of the LSU fan reaction was ambivalent when he was hired...with most questioning the agreement to make the guy LSU blew out in the Independence Bowl one of the top 5 highest paid HCs in all of college football.
, and he hadn't already taken a strong program to the top yet. I remember this, because I remember thinking at the time that Dinardo was being disrespected. LSU had far more talent than Miss State, we seemed on the verge of becoming very good- and yet a lot of the media seemed to love Saban.
The story then, is much the same as it is now: look what he's done at A, imagine what he could do at B.
At the time, I wasn't separating "coach" from "program", which we now do (or should, when looking at guys).
And I believe the OP's premise and suggestion- imagine what a great coach can do with our program.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 11:42 am to lsufb1912
The point is he could stay within 60 miles of BR (recruiting wise) and build a better 2 deep D than he has ever had - you can't do that in Norman.
ETA
His offense recruits itself but consider the fact that the best receiver on the team we crushed was from Opelousas (I believe) and we signed several higher ranked wr's in the years surrounding that class - 2 of whom have firmly planted their flag in the nfl. Consider those 2 things together and the post below this and tell me again there aren't compelling reasons to move.
ETA
His offense recruits itself but consider the fact that the best receiver on the team we crushed was from Opelousas (I believe) and we signed several higher ranked wr's in the years surrounding that class - 2 of whom have firmly planted their flag in the nfl. Consider those 2 things together and the post below this and tell me again there aren't compelling reasons to move.
This post was edited on 10/20/21 at 3:32 pm
Posted on 10/20/21 at 11:53 am to lsufb1912
quote:
He can do just as much in Norman as he can in Baton Rouge. They're already headed to the SEC so that will help with recruiting. I'm not buying it.
OU can make the playoffs in the big 12. They won’t win it all, ever, but they’ll make it. Whenever they get to the SEC? Forget about it. Recruiting won’t get any easier and they’ll get good offensive players but the defensive players in the south they need won’t flock there. Your take was an ill informed one. They will have to pluck their players from Texas, a state that will have two other sec teams. LSU has proven it can compete in the SEC with incompetent coaching. OU can barely win the Big 12 playing shite teams. It won’t get any easier in the SEC and Riley knows that.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 12:47 pm to GeauxLSUGeaux
Mark Emmert’s wife took Miss Terry to lunch at TJ Ribs before the hire. Miss Terry wanted to see BR and approve before they considered LSU. Buddy Songy or one of the other old radio guys was broadcasting his lunch show from there. Nick wasn’t a thought in anyone’s mind. The host asked all of the guests to “vote” on the next coach by turning in names written on paper. Nick received 1 vote —Miss Terry’s. Everyone laughed it off when the host read the names and votes. True story.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News