re: In everyone's opinion who is LSUs greatest football coach to ever coach the game??

I think Curley Hallman was a year away from bringing back the magic!

In order:

Curley DiNard
Paul McClendon
Mike Stovall

Jon Gruden.

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Won with Nick Saban's players.

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Yea Miles took his recruits who looked pretty bad in '04 and improved them in '05, and even more in '06, then won NC in '07.
The further removed from Saban the better they performed. Rebuff this fact.

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In everyone's opinion who is LSUs greatest football coach to ever coach the game??


I'm not necessarily saying championship wise either !!

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If you're talking about while at LSU, I'd it's Les Miles. If you're talking about career in total, it's Saban. And those are the only two that are likely in the conversation for number 1 at LSU.

I can only go back to Cholly Mac.

Arnsparger turned LSU into a major power program.A break here or there and he couldve won some major hardware. He revolutionized college football to some degree and his teams were amazing to watch. No gimmicks, wish bone, spread, pistol crap, NFL style football with a dominating defense. But he hated recruiting and wasnt at LSU very long. But was clearly a defensive genius, maybe the best in the game of football at any level during his time.

Charlie Mac- was a solid coach, that withstood the test of time. But the lack of championships and New Years Day games( back when they really meant something ) will have some reluctant to call him the GOAT.

Saban- Like Arnsparger turned LSU into a major power and changed expectations on recruiting and winning titles. He also did a ton for facilities and understood that a bigger investment was needed if you are going to recruit 4-5* players consistently at a school like LSU at that time.
He changed the entire paradigm of LSU football across the board. Only great leaders with great vision can do this in any organization and reach milestones as quick as he did. Add in a Nat'l title and it hard to argue against someone who believes he was the GOAT. If you consider his success at Bama as well, which has made him at least a Top 3 to ever coach the sport since its existence and its a "no brainer" for some. But only a 5 yr stint at LSU and quitting on the job to pursue his own personal objectives, will make it tough for some to give him the the title of GOAT, especially if they dont consider what happened after LSU to be relevant.

Les Miles has the longevity, the Nat'l title and an all time winning %. Only minor NCAA sanctions, maybe the best ever at developing players to succeed in the NFL and won so many huge games. Almost every year his teams were in the hunt for the whole thing late into the season. A terrific recruiter of great coaches as well as players. He went through several coaching staffs and just kept winning even as the SEC became by far the toughest conference in the sport. An amazing 8+ wins each year he was at the helm during this stretch garners him some mention as the GOAT. A break here or there, especially if Saban wouldve had success in the NFL, had landed anywhere but Bama, the rematch game in 2011 and several more including not having to play Urban Meyer every year with Florida has to make him a contender. Add in his state, all of a sudden just stopped producing SEC caliber QB's, at the same time Saban had Bama's program turned around and Alabama was still producing average SEC QB's.
Both programs at the time were being built to beat each other with a run the ball, play great defense philosophy. It was turning into a great all time rivalry. But, time has shown you arent beating Saban when he has the better QB. Convincing a Big time OOS prospect to leave their own state and not be the focal point of the offense will always be a very difficult task no matter who you are.

This is often overlooked and is a testament to Miles' ability to still 'find a way" to be in the hunt late against the best division even without better QB play than most of the other good teams.
One could counter argue tho his inability to find or develop a good QB to lead his great teams was ultimately his demise and the reason to not list him as the best.

He couldve been remembered as one of the very best ever in any college sport, had a few things developed differently. The breaks in football do tho work both ways depending on how one would choose to look at his tenure. He was certainly fortunate in many aspects as well.

It may just come down to whatever the voter thinks is more impressive; building a program or taking over after a great coach and having an even better winning %.
Both are very difficult to do. The latter has rarely been done in college football.

As far as football knowledge goes....I put Arnesparger up there.

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Talented players, for the most part, improve on their own.

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Yea ok, disregard all the talk of no player development then. It's not needed, right?
LOL you're a fooyball joke.