re: Saban - year 3 at LSU got blown out multiple times

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Ok Saban won the SEC in year 2 as well

Let’s not shift the narrative like a hypocrite next year, ok?

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I think 5-3 in the SEC next year for Kelly is certainly doable, which is what Saban did in year 2.

Now that probably doesn’t win the West these days, but you’re the one “shifting the narrative” by claiming winning the West year 2 is the standard to judge Kelly by because Saban did it 20 years ago.

He also got absolutely embarrassed by Florida and Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium his second year, but still 9-3 is a reasonable expectation next year imo.

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Nick Saban was 50 years old in 2002 in his third year of his second head coaching job.

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Nick Saban was 50 years old in 2002 in his third year of his THIRD head coaching job.

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no such thing as a 3 year rebuild anymore with the transfer portal.

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This argument makes little sense to me. Sure you have a portal, but what kind of athletes are entering these portals? They're 2nd teir from what ever team they're on 2nd string guys looking for more playing time, or they're coming from a 2/3 tier conference. Sure they find playing time elsewhere, but those players are STILL second teir to the ones they were playing behind, and when you match them up the result is still the same.

One thing the portal does is allows coaches to take kids that have a year or more in a collegiate program vs taking an 18 year old that has not had the benefit of a collegiate strength and conditioning program. There is still some level of alignment that has to happen. They need to learn our scheme, where they fit within our group of kids, etc. There's still aspects of a rebuild, it just shortens the time frame from 3 years to something much quicker.

Good OP.

2002 was a tough transition year, but Mauck's injury had a lot to do with the tailspin toward the end.

02 and even 04 were pretty up and down with some bad Ls

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Auburn (away) 31-7
Bama (home) - 31-0

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Both of these games were awful and still hard to look back upon.

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This argument makes little sense to me. Sure you have a portal, but what kind of athletes are entering these portals? They're 2nd teir from what ever team they're on 2nd string guys looking for more playing time, or they're coming from a 2/3 tier conference. Sure they find playing time elsewhere, but those players are STILL second teir to the ones they were playing behind, and when you match them up the result is still the same.

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Alabama's best offensive lineman, starting running back and starting receiver are all transfers, Eli Ricks was a freshman All-American and transferred away from LSU. Caleb Williams is a Heisman candidate and Jordan Addison might win the Biletnikoff, both transfers. Hendon Hooker was a transfer, as was Jaxson Dart. Those are all elite players.

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Nick Saban was 50 years old in 2002 in his third year of his second head coaching job.

Brian Kelly is 60 years old in his first year of his fifth head coaching job.

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How old is Kirby? Your point makes no sense.

Not really, didn't we have only 35 (+/-) scholarship players the end of last year before Kelly was even hired?

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Saban took over a program that had been in the dark ages.

We’re now a couple of years removed from the greatest title team in NCAA history.

The two are incomparable.

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I disagree. Team discipline and culture were in sharp decline because of O's malfeasance. There was a sharp, downward momentum that needed to be changed. One positive thing is, so far, this team fights.

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How much better would LSU be if Caleb Williams was our QB? Has USC played anyone even close to Tenn? It's not a good comparison.

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He went out and got elite transfers. USC would beat LSU if they played right now.

Comparing Kelly and Riley, who are both is their first years after taking over sub .500 teams is a bad comparison, but y'all want to compare Kelly to Saban 2 decades ago? How does that make sense?