re: Saban did not build LSU into a powerhouse. Mark Emmert did.

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He awakened sleeping giant when no one else could. And he did it again at Bama.

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He didn't awaken shite.

Prior to Emmert, LSU had a long and distinguished history of being cheap as frick in football.

LSU hired cheap head coaches, and LSU didn't give those head coaches a sufficient budget to hire/retain/replace quality assistant coaches.

LSU didn't give a frick about facilities.

LSU did not invest in LSU football.

Emmert saw firsthand the error of that tradition in DiNardo's demise. Moreover, Emmert led the creation of the "Flagship Agenda." He wanted LSU to be tops in every significant area, that included the football program, and he knew that a prominent football program was the key to LSU's fundraising. Emmert knew that investing in the football program would pay huge dividends for the Flagship.

The first thing he had to was to hire a head coach. He increased the budget for the LSU head coach to the THIRD highest in the country. Only Fulmer and Spurrier would have higher salaries. Emmert was ready to invest in the LSU football program. LSU, for the first time, could afford to hire almost anyone Emmert wanted.

The belief that Saban could force the LSU administration to make it rain money for his projects is absurd. That's not the way it works. It certainly did not work like that for Saban at Michigan State. Although elf sized, he's not magic. He can't force administrators to give him money.

Prior to Emmert, LSU was unwilling to pay the salary of a high level, organized coach. Prior to Emmert, LSU was unwilling to significantly invest in LSU football. Saban would not have built anything if Emmert was not already planning to do so. Head coaches don't have the money or means to build facilities. Presidents do. Saban was part of the investment, not the cause of it. The plan came first, and Saban was a part of the plan.

Emmert wanted to invest in LSU football. He needed a high level, organized coach to achieve that goal. Almost any high level coach would do.

The flip side is not true. Saban could not go just anywhere and build a prominent football program. He certainly did not build one at any of his stops before arriving at LSU.

Saban did not build LSU. He was just part of the process. An important part of the process, but almost any other high level, organized coach could have done it at LSU.