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Saban did not build LSU into a powerhouse. Mark Emmert did.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:23 pm
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:23 pm
Gerry DiNardo took over LSU in December 1994. In 1995, LSU went 7-4-1 and beat Saban in the Independence Bowl. In 1996, LSU went 10-2. In 1997, LSU went 9-3.
DiNardo woke the sleeping giant. He got LSU into the Top Ten in 1997 and 1998.
DiNardo brought in Faulk and a host of players that ended up winning a NC under Saban.
DiNardo had issues, but a big problem he had was that LSU was too fricking cheap to play football at an elite level. DiNardo's salary was $150,000 per year.
Mark Emmert saw DiNardo's success and the reasons for his failures. He decided it was time for LSU to play big-time football rather than skimping nickels and dimes.
He offered Saban a five-year contract for $1.2 million annually. More than double Saban's salary at Michigan State. Only three other coaches in the country were getting paid a million per year: Bowden, Spurrier, and Fulmer.
By contrast, DiNardo's buyout for FOUR contract years was LESS than ONE year of Saban's contract. DiNardo's buyout was $600,000 for the four years of $150,000 salary. Saban's salary was $1.2 million.
LSU (Emmert) decided to play at an elite level in 1999. Then Emmert hired Saban. Saban did not cause the change to play at an elite level. To the contrary, Saban was a result of that change. He was the coach who received the benefit of that change in direction.
Emmert, Bertman, the Board, and the boosters built the facilities needed to play at an elite level.
Saban did NOT lay the foundation for this program to keep being successful. The 2007 and 2019 Natties are not the result of Saban coming to Baton Rouge.
The LSU administration changed directions before Saban arrived.
Saban was the beneficiary of that change, NOT the cause of it.
Emmert, the Board, and the boosters watched DiNardo rebuild LSU recruiting and the LSU program. Where were you? They decided to play big-money football, and open up the budget and pay a coach 8 times more than the previous coach.
Saban was in the right place at the right time. LSU was finally ready to spend. Saban benefitted from it, but he did no cause it.
DiNardo woke the sleeping giant. He got LSU into the Top Ten in 1997 and 1998.
DiNardo brought in Faulk and a host of players that ended up winning a NC under Saban.
DiNardo had issues, but a big problem he had was that LSU was too fricking cheap to play football at an elite level. DiNardo's salary was $150,000 per year.
Mark Emmert saw DiNardo's success and the reasons for his failures. He decided it was time for LSU to play big-time football rather than skimping nickels and dimes.
He offered Saban a five-year contract for $1.2 million annually. More than double Saban's salary at Michigan State. Only three other coaches in the country were getting paid a million per year: Bowden, Spurrier, and Fulmer.
By contrast, DiNardo's buyout for FOUR contract years was LESS than ONE year of Saban's contract. DiNardo's buyout was $600,000 for the four years of $150,000 salary. Saban's salary was $1.2 million.
LSU (Emmert) decided to play at an elite level in 1999. Then Emmert hired Saban. Saban did not cause the change to play at an elite level. To the contrary, Saban was a result of that change. He was the coach who received the benefit of that change in direction.
Emmert, Bertman, the Board, and the boosters built the facilities needed to play at an elite level.
Saban did NOT lay the foundation for this program to keep being successful. The 2007 and 2019 Natties are not the result of Saban coming to Baton Rouge.
The LSU administration changed directions before Saban arrived.
Saban was the beneficiary of that change, NOT the cause of it.
Emmert, the Board, and the boosters watched DiNardo rebuild LSU recruiting and the LSU program. Where were you? They decided to play big-money football, and open up the budget and pay a coach 8 times more than the previous coach.
Saban was in the right place at the right time. LSU was finally ready to spend. Saban benefitted from it, but he did no cause it.
This post was edited on 1/12/24 at 9:03 am
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:24 pm to Salviati
Saban built LSU and Bama. Give it a rest
This post was edited on 1/10/24 at 6:24 pm
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:24 pm to Salviati
quote:
He got LSU into the Top Ten in 1997 and 1998.
LOL at including 98
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:25 pm to Salviati
You spent a lot of time on this. Even if it is really dumb.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:25 pm to Salviati
The most important day in LSU history is the day we hired Nick Saban. This is undeniable.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:25 pm to Salviati
You are crazy if you don’t recognize what Saban did to turn around losing LSU. LSU would have been Ole Miss
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:26 pm to Salviati
Post all that dumb shite just to be wrong. Yes, dinardo was important in terms of getting La kids to come. Saban did the rest. Made lsu invest in everything. We aren’t the LSU of today without Saban.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:26 pm to Salviati
Not sure you can watch what Saban did at Bama and come away with DiNardo as the "architect". Saban turned LSU into an actual powerhouse.
It's true that Miles did a lot of sustain it and he did well for some years bur Saban had only begun to build LSU in the way he eventually built Alabama. DiNardo got some players, Saban built the program.
DiNardo was nothing after LSU.
It's true that Miles did a lot of sustain it and he did well for some years bur Saban had only begun to build LSU in the way he eventually built Alabama. DiNardo got some players, Saban built the program.
DiNardo was nothing after LSU.
This post was edited on 1/10/24 at 6:27 pm
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:26 pm to Salviati
Disagree with you 100%. Don't understand fans like you. No way LSU wins 3 nattys in the last 20 years without Saban. He is the GOAT.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:27 pm to Salviati
100% agree! DiNardo got LSU to open the wallet and LSU realized the cash cow days had arrived. Saban was just in the right place at the right time while at LSU and Saban was loyal to nobody but Saban.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:29 pm to Salviati
quote:
SalviatiSaban did not build LSU into a powerhouse. He was merely just another brick in the wall
LOL, no. He awakened sleeping giant when no one else could. And he did it again at Bama.
It’s ok to admit he’s the GOAT
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:29 pm to Paul Allen
quote:No. It wasn't Saban.
Saban is the reason why LSU is where they are today.
It was Mark Emmert.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:29 pm to Lovestofish
quote:
He is the Throat GOAT.
Fify
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:29 pm to Lovestofish
quote:
No way LSU wins 3 nattys in the last 20 years without Saban.
BS! Remove his member from your mouth bro.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:30 pm to Granola
quote:f the LSU football program was built by Saban through his force of will in demanding facilities and upgrades from the LSU administration, then why didn't he build anything at Michigan State?
You are crazy if you don’t recognize what Saban did to turn around losing LSU. LSU would have been Ole Miss
He spent five years at MSU (1995-1999), and he spent five years at LSU (2000-2004). There's a huge difference, however, between MSU's football program and LSU's football programs during and immediately after Saban.
Why the difference if Saban had the power to make an administration bend to his will and spend millions of dollars just because he said so.
Michigan State
Saban: Okay now that you’ve hired me, I’m going to show you what a national championship program really looks like.
Michigan State: No, you miserable midget. We hired you to coach the team. You don't tell us where to spend millions of dollars.
LSU
Saban: Okay now that you’ve hired me, I’m going to show you what a national championship program really looks like. Get ready to write more checks.
LSU: No shite, you miserable midget. We told you when we were interviewing you that we wanted to invest millions into the program. That's why LSU made you one of the highest paid coaches in the country -- LSU is ready and willing to invest millions of dollars in football. Oh, and stay away from Candy.
This post was edited on 1/10/24 at 6:31 pm
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:31 pm to Lovestofish
The powers that be wanted Gerry DiNardo to fire Lou Tepper. He refused to and it cost him him job. Had Gerry fired Tepper he would have been our coach in 2000 not Nick Saban. Gerry moved the program forward there is no doubt about that. He got stubborn about coordinators and that was it for him. Do we win a natty in 2003 with DiNardo as the HC? Who the hell knows!!!
My favorite Nick Saban moment? Uh ... the day he retired from Alabama.
My favorite Nick Saban moment? Uh ... the day he retired from Alabama.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 6:32 pm to LSUKNUT
quote:
LSUKNUT
You're delusional. You believe what you want to believe.
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