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I watched the entire LSU/BAMA game and y'alls team is complete class. Players helping other team up after a good tackle, no thugish bullshite, and one other thing that I noticed. I was in the stadium and after the teams warmed up before the game the LSU team huddled up mid-field to get fired up for the kickoff and they huddled up 10 yds. off the Alabama logo.

I absolutely love this about our team. I've NEVER understood a coach that allows their team to disrespect an opponent and the universities and fans the team represents by doing crap like stomping on the eye. I really just don't get it. I would hate it if we had a coach and players like that.

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He reiminds me of coach Bryant and everytime I say that on here I catch shite for it but he has always reminded me of coach Bryant.

Wow, Scoop, that really means a lot coming from a die hard Bama fan like you.

One good turn deserves another, so here is my praise for your coach. First of all, I want to make it clear that I'm a die hard Miles lover. Not a supporter, or apologist, because in my opinion, he needs neither. I just love the guy as our coach.

But I admit I also loved Saban as our coach. I didn't begrudge him one bit when he left to try to fulfill a dream of his to coach in the NFL, and really don't see how anyone could.

I hated that he went to Alabama, but only because it meant we were now in direct competition with someone that I think is a great coach. He didn't do it to spite LSU, he did it because it is a great job opportunity at a great school, although I do think if Miles was in the same situation, he would have showed more respect to LSU and perhaps showed a little more regret that things worked out the way they did. I also was disappointed in him that he gave up on Miami so quickly. I thought a competitor like him would have stuck it out and tried to work to turn things around rather than giving up on what he claimed was his dream his whole life. I don't think he would have had the same realization that college was his love, had things been going better that season. I think he just quit, and that disappointed me as someone who always rooted for him to do well in the NFL. As for the "I'm not going to be the coach at Alabama" speech, it isn't worth criticizing because, at the time, he didn't think he was going to be. Simple as that.

All of the things you said about Coach Miles and the class his teams display, I think appied to LSU when Saban was here, and apply to Alabama now. His teams never disrespected opponents, and they always represented us with class as well. I don't think Saban is a dirty recruiter now, just like I didn't think he was at LSU. His teams always displayed great sportsmanship, evidenced by players like Bradie James, Michael Clayton, and Marcus Spears, who are two of the best representatives that LSU has ever had, along with everyone else on that 2003 team that I continue to hold as one of my favorite LSU teams of all time.

I also think all of the "Saban will leave Bama" discussions are stupid. Saban will retire as the coach of Alabama, and I 100% believe that.

That said, I love Miles' attitude and approach to the media much more than I ever did with Saban. That was the one thing that I felt was lacking with Saban. He doesn't have a lot of respect for the media that cover his teams IMO, and he comes across as arrogant and a little disingenious a good part of the time, something that bothered me even when he was at LSU.

I also never really liked his sideline attitude, the throwing of the headsets and yelling at his players style that he has, but that is just personal preference. I know many would disagree, but I just prefer Miles' calming approach.

I always remember at Tennessee in 2006, when JR threw a pick six on the first drive of the 2nd half, his 3rd INT of the game, and Miles walked over calmly and looked JR right in the eye and patted him on the back and said "We're all with you. Go get it back." JR took the game over after that and led LSU to a great comeback win on the road. I always wondered how JR would have reacted had Saban run up and yelled in his face. Personally, I'm not sure Saban wouldn't have benched JR at that point and thrown Flynn to the wolves, as he always had a quick trigger with QBs in Baton Rouge. But Miles kept his cool, and the team responded.

Some teams respond to different styles, and this team might have benefitted at some points with a more aggressive approach, but Miles is building this team in his image, and I think we'll continue to see dividends the rest of this year and especially in 2010, when this team will reflect Miles' guidance the past two years when the team had it's fair share of struggles and he remained calm and stuck to his plan.

I truly look forward to our rematch in Tiger Stadium next year, as I think the Miles bashers will finally get their comeuppance.

Thanks for your perspective, and as always, your fair and good natured comments on our team.

This post was edited on 11/13/09 at 8:53 am