re: Would Saban have made LSU a dynasty

First of all Let's get the obvious out of the way. It is staggeringly easier to be great at Alabama then it is to be great at LSU for a few reasons.

1) the head of the SEC referees is an Alabama graduate. One example of how this helped Alabama: I believe the first year Alabama won the BCS they had zero holding penalties during the regular season. I know, however, that Alabama had 8 holding penalties to LSU's 27 over the years 07, 08, and 09. LSU on the other hand is regularly one of the most penalized teams in the SEC. This is true both under Saban and Miles.

2) The Scheduling coordinator for the SEC is an Alabama grad. Alabama played Missouri and Tennessee from the East while LSU got Florida and South Carolina. Next year Alabama has kentucky and Tennessee I believe while LSU gets Georgia and Florida. A one loss SEC team has a 95% chance, if not more, of getting in the title game so LSU's extra strength of schedule only hurts LSU while Alabama's inferior strength of schedule will not keep them out of title contention if they lose to say A&M.

3) Alabama is the media darling of the SEC. They have a great history and a coach who is very good, and worshiped to the point of being a little ridiculous. Alabama's media status make it significantly easier for Alabama to pull shite like what they did last year and call mulligan on the first "game of the century." No way LSU makes it if the roles are reversed.


Now would LSU have been a dynasty if Saban would have stayed?

Yes. HOWEVER, the reason is NOT because Saban is a better coach than Miles.

If Saban had not come to coach at Alabama LSU would have at least 3 national championships under Miles. Alabama has been our main rival and Saban's coaching and recruiting has been able to consistently screw LSU's chances of making it to that crystal trophy on multiple occassions.

Therefore the reason that Saban would have created a dynasty is because it is doubtful Alabama would have found a coach to compete with him for probably 4-5 more years in my opinion because coaches like Saban and Miles are not a dime a dozen.


Finally, is Saban a better coach now than he was at LSU?

He is a more decorated coach. I think he can play a little more loosely with the rules since he has been at Alabama. I hesitate to say his skill has drastically improved since LSU. He may have improved marginally in certain areas.