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

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Salviati

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Nice OP. I agree with your general sentiment however Saban was a major part of the cultural shift, complacency to winning, at LSU football. The cultural shift may have started with Mark Emmert and the influential people around him like Skip and Emmert's ability to convince the BoS that a winning CFB program at LSU pays large financial dividends so invest in it, but Saban was that confirmation. Without Saban and winning a NC in 2003 the confirmation and confidence gained from winning a NC, that LSU can be at the top of hill in CFB may have taken a serious hit. Since then the expectation of LSU football success by the fans, administration and BoS has been tops in the nation. IMO Saban deserves a lot of credit from LSU fans for confirming that LSU football can be a national championship brand.