re: Saban went 8-5 in third season

Dinardo recruited well but his last two classes suffered much attrition. However, there were players on the roster who later got drafted when Saban arrived.

However, Saban's 2001 class was next level recruiting. This was the first time LSU was recruiting in the top five with the big boys as we did. Just look at the class: Spears, Wilkerson, Clayton, Hill, Whitworth, and others.

As for 02, Mauck played rough until the Florida game. Hell, his passing was so bad in MSU game that they ran the ball the entire second half. However, the light bulb came on against Florida, then he got hurt.

SO he was stuck with Marcus Randall and Clausen. They played like crap. Randall was an athlete playing qb who all too often did not make good decisions. He should have been converted to a DB but they needed qbs on the roster.

If Mauck remains healthy, we beat Auburn and give Bama a run for its money in that game as well. We probably beat Arkansas and don't need the Hail Mary at Kentucky.

Saban wouldn't get caught in that trap again at LSU. He needed qbs so he signed JR and Flynn in same year. Robert Lane tried to make it exclusive to him but Saban said not again and told him to get lost.

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he signed JR and Flynn in same year. Robert Lane tried to make it exclusive to him but Saban said not again and told him to get lost.

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When Lane committed, it was Flynn and him. Apparently, he was told we would not recruit another QB. But we did (JaMarcus). IDK the timeline of events, but at some point Lane bailed when Russell committed.

The hero of all that is Matt Flynn. He didn't waiver, stuck it out, and won a natty.

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Has Kelly won the SEC? Will he win the NC next year?

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He has never and will never do either

I forgot about Robert lane

*3L title from the detractors (no downvote here)

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He inherited a really good roster that was poorly coached in a time when the SEC wasn't producing national champions.

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UF played for it in '95 and won the natty in '96. UTenn in '98. And until we derailed their plans, the UF-UTenn '01 winner was on their way to the national championship game.

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UF played for it in '95 and won the natty in '96. UTenn in '98. And until we derailed their plans, the UF-UTenn '01 winner was on their way to the national championship game.

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The SEC has won 13 of the last 18 national championships. While there was a national champion contender every few years from the conference prior to this stretch, the reign of dominance started in 2006 with Florida's title.

The point being made was that the SEC was not the dominant conference in cfb back in 2000 when Saban took over. Now it is.

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The point being made was that the SEC was not the dominant conference in cfb back in 2000 when Saban took over. Now it is.

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I agree that the SEC was stronger in '22 than in '00. But again, it's not some glaring difference.

In the five seasons ('95-'99) preceding Saban's arrival, the SEC won 2 and played for a third. The conference was dominated by UF and UTenn. In the final '00 AP Poll there were 6 SEC teams ranked in the top-25 but none in the top-10 (UF was ranked #11) . We played four of the six SEC ranked teams. We were not ranked.

In the five seasons ('16-'19 and '21) preceding BK's arrival, the SEC won 3 and played in all five (no need to sanction '20; only Bama does that). The conference was dominated by UGA and Bama. In the final '22 AP Poll there were 6 SEC teams ranked in the top-25 with 3 in the top-10. We played four of the six SEC ranked teams. We were ranked #17.

So yes, the conference was stronger but it wasn't some night-n-day difference.

Lane specifically said don't recruit Jamarcus

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You are partially correct. Devery and Peterman were Saban's recruits.

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Peterman graduated HS in '00 so I guess Saban gets the credit in this discussion, but DiNardo started his recruiting process. DiNardo made a trip to St. Stanislaus (Peterman's high school) during Peterman's junior year.