re: Saban did not build LSU into a powerhouse. Mark Emmert did.

You're an idiot.

DiNardo cleared the lot.
Saban laid the foundation.

This is not in dispute.

Other opinions of Salviati:

Einstein did not contribute much to Physics

Socrates was just another blabbermouth

Elon Musk just keeps getting lucky

Shakespeare was a hack

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please explain this...which Dinardo players helped saban win a title in 2003? Could only be a very small handful of red shirt seniors.

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I can think of five: Rodney Reed, Bryce Wyatt, Blain Bech, Eric Edwards, and Donnie Jones.

My point about DiNardo is not to suggest in the slightest that he is the reason LSU won the 2003 National Championship. My point about DiNardo is that he changed the belief about what LSU's trajectory could be after Archer and Hallman. DiNardo started the trend of getting great Louisiana athletes to play at LSU. He started the tradition of thinking about LSU as a Top Five program.

DiNardo showed that LSU could be a competitor for championships.

Moreover, he showed that LSU needed to invest and spend real money if it wanted to WIN championships. DiNardo's failure is in large part, a failure of LSU to invest in its football program. I don't believe that DiNardo is any way the architect of LSU's football excellence. However, he showed the LSU administration and Emmert what could happen and what was needed.

Emmert led the creation of the "Flagship Agenda." He wanted LSU to be tops in every significant area, that included the football program, and he knew that a prominent football program was the key to LSU's fundraising. Emmert knew that investing in the football program would pay huge dividends for the Flagship.

The mistaken belief that Saban could force the LSU administration to make it rain money for his projects is absurd. That's not the way it works. It certainly did not work like that for Saban at Michigan State. Saban can't force administrators to give him money.

Prior to Emmert, LSU was unwilling to pay the salary of a high level, organized coach. LSU was unwilling to hire and fire assistants at the HC's request. Prior to Emmert, LSU was unwilling to significantly invest in LSU football.

Saban would not have built anything if Emmert was not already planning to do so. Head coaches don't have the money or means to build facilities. Presidents do. Saban was part of the investment, not the cause of it. The plan came first, and Saban was a part of the plan.

Emmert wanted to invest in LSU football. He needed a high level, organized coach to achieve that goal. Almost any high level coach would do.

The flip side is not true. Saban could not go just anywhere and build a prominent football program. He certainly did not build one at any of his stops before arriving at LSU.

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Saban would not have built anything if Emmert was not already planning to do so. Head coaches don't have the money or means to build facilities. Presidents do. Saban was part of the investment, not the cause of it. The plan came first, and Saban was a part of the plan.

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I agree with this and just to clarify this statement does not discount the fact that Saban is the GOAT CFB coach.

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Emmert, the Board, and the boosters watched DiNardo rebuild LSU recruiting and the LSU program. Where were you? They decided to play big-money football, and open up the budget and pay a coach 8 times more than the previous coach.

Saban was in the right place at the right time. LSU was finally ready to spend. Saban benefitted from it, but he did no cause it.

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There is a grain of truth there, but Saban actually brought it to fruition by winning. Had we thrown big money at the wrong coach in 2000, the last 24 years of great football would not have happened for LSU and Emmerts other efforts would have been wasted. Saban is the GOAT and built/revived two great programs.

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LSU had been a graveyard. All the talent in the world in state but they left every year. Our football program simply did not take it seriously.

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Even before this - when they stayed in-state - Bear Bryant famously said, "If I had the players that Charlie McClendon did, I'd win the SEC every year".

I would argue it was the combination of the two. They were the first duo of professional coach and AD at LSU. I knew the first time I went with my Dad to hear Saban speak at the Gridiron Club lunch right after he was hired, he was different. His level of professionalism was refreshing and all business. He was one of the first to implement a process and method to coaching. His first order of business he said that day was to lock down the talent right in our own state and that he did. Previously was just a good ole boy network and LSU was not national championship caliber. Mark Emmert was our first real AD that wasn't a political hire. I loved everything Saban stood for and what he did for college football. Emmert deserves a lot of credit also for what he has done too.

Dude you’re trying way too hard to undermine Saban. This is pathetic