re: Don't mean to anger anyone with this but I have a question regarding Saban.

quote:

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dreamer

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Mark made it happen. Joe Dean had no input in making the deal.

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This is a continuing bastardization of the truth perpetrated by folks who delight in casting aspersions upon the great Tiger, Joe Dean.

I will be the first to admit he was a man, with faults. He had the DUI incident. He was a businessman first, and ran the Athletic Dept like a business. That was not always the best way. He was too frugal. As proven with Saban and the improvement of the athletic facilities, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

But to say he had nothing to do with the hiring of Saban is patently false. He was a man with contacts throughout the sports world. he helped many a coach get placed throughout the country. He was instumental in swaying Carl Maddox, the AD at the time, into hiring an unproven Dale Brown.

He got the initial word about Saban's interest from Sean Touhy who shared an agent, Jimmy Sexton, with Saban. He brought the name to Mark Emmert. Give Mark Emmert credit, Mr. Dean wanted to offer Saban less, but Emmert had his man and wanted him, so he insisted on the million dollar offer.

Give credit to Emmert for making it happen; give credit to Joe Dean for starting the process.

Also give credit to Joe Dean for his years of service to sports, the SEC, college basketball, and especially LSU. Here's a man who was an All-SEC basketball performer before and during the time of Bob Pettit, an NBA star, a very successful businessman who essential invented the "shoe contract" with big-time athletes,when he was peddling a high-top canvas product with an obscure player's name stamped on it. He was the consummate play-by-play man for televised SEC basketball games before ESPN and 24 hours of basketball daily. He helped to make SEC basketball more than just UK and the 11 weak sisters.

He was a man who, at the height of his career as a top executive for Converse and as an announcer, quit those jobs to be the Athletic Director for his Alma Mater, a place he loved, because they needed a steady hand after the craziness of Bob Broadhead.

He was a loving husband, father of three great kids, grandfather to many, and great-grandfather as well. He was a mentor to some, a father figure to others, and to almost everyone he met, a true and loyal friend. He was my Dad's friend, my Mom's friend, and my friend. It pains me to read the smartasses and Johnny-come-latelies on this board denigrate his memory.

Thank you Mr. Dean! May you rest in peace......