re: Reali-Tigers are you out there?

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You mention Saban but temper it with "I don't think anyone would say he was of the elite tier of coaches he's considered to be in today" and it's wrong. Saban was already regarded as one of the real guys to keep an eye on. Saban took over a 4-7 and 2-8 program before DiNardo was fired and led LSU to an 8-4 season a bowl victory his first year and LSU's first SEC championship in 15 seasons his 2nd season. Let alone LSU's first NC in 45 seasons in his 4th season.

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In 1999 Saban was, as you said, "a guy to keep an eye on." He was not, however, the elite, deified coaching God he is right now. We did for his reputation what he did for ours, and that is establish it as a player amongst the bog boys. He made Michigan State competitive - he even turned around the program you could argue - but he didn't have any huge home runs with them. He absolutely knocked it out of the park with us. You're right about his immediate success, and you hit the nail on the head with the confidence factor. He practically willed the teams in 2000 and 2001 to play above their talent levels - either that or DiNardo really was just an inept coach who couldn't capitalize on any of the talent he'd landed. I don't knock Saban one single bit. He started this - if we hadn't hired him, none of us would be having these arguments today because we'd still be mediocre, going to about 4-6 bowls a decade and making the occasional top 25 appearance. But he is gone, and it's up to us to continue it.... Which I think we're doing, given the road bumps. If we continue on this path, in 10 more years we'll be talking about the Tigers in the hunt for the NC year in and year out. 8-5 last year, 10-3 this year, maybe better next year... there will be some ups and some downs... And I can't wait to experience every single one of them.

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You mention Saban but temper it with "I don't think anyone would say he was of the elite tier of coaches he's considered to be in today" and it's wrong. Saban was already regarded as one of the real guys to keep an eye on.

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How does being a "one of the real guys to keep an eye on" equate to "elite tier"?

The first thing many LSU fans thought of when Saban was hired was how Dinardo whipped him in the Indy Bowl.

Saban was mostly known as a good recruiter who out worked other coaches. No one had any way of knowing he would become an elite coach.

No one can say he would have ever reached the point he has reached without his tenure at LSU
either.

We're 9-3 so get out of here with the Saban worship. No "I told you so" for you this year.