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Is Nick Saban the luckiest coach ever?
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:19 pm
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:19 pm
Please note that almost every winner is lucky to some degree, and that his luck doesn't disqualify Saban from being considered an all time great NCAAF coach. However, let's take a look at some of his MNCs:
2003 LSU: We played an absolute clunker and lost at home to an eventually 8-5 UFaG team coached by Ron Zook (whose staff schooled Saban, Muschamp and Fisher). Most years, this would be the end of a team's MNC hopes, but at the end of the year LSU got a shot in the BCS against an Oklahoma team that had been annihilated by a (good) K-State team in the Big 12 title game. I think LSU would have beaten the Trojans in NOLA, but Oklahoma was the lesser opponent. Also, without the BCS contract obligations, the Coaches' poll might have sided with USC (which would have been bs, but I digress).
2009 Alabama: Saban's only undefeated team. They beat 7-6 Tennessee at home due to a blocked FG. During the BCS title game, Colt McCoy (statistically one of the best passers in NCAAF history) went down and Texas backup Garrett Gilbert (Maybe UT fans can correct me, but he turned out to be a bust) led to Texas back to within 24-21 of the Tide before losing.
2011 Alabama: Ssban and the Tide played an arse schedule (what else is new?) and got their only quality win at home (Arkansas). After losing at home to LSU, Alabama essentially got a bye week for the SEC title game (which LSU won against UGA). Then the Tide got a ridiculous mulligan against LSU in the BCS title game which they cashed in on. LSU finished the season as conference champions with a better record than Bama against a much better schedule and 1/2 of the head to head wins (LSU's was at home, Bama's was at a neutral site), but the retardo system considers Bama champions. This result helps lead to the Playoff
2012 Alabama: Bama loses at home to TAMU, this time they actually win the SEC title game and get picked to play undefeated ND in the BCS title game. Alabama got the nod over 11-1 Oregon and K-State, which is understandable since those two didn't have conference title games. However, Ohio State had also finished their season undefeated at 12-0 but was ineligible for postseason play due to violating some arcane NCAA regulation. IF OSU was eligible, they would have played ND in the BCS championship game.
2015 Alabama: The Tide lost at home to Ole Miss (not a typo). That Ole Miss team would later give up a 4th and 25 conversion to Bert and Arkansas, which kept them out of the SEC CG. Would the CFP have given Bama another mulligan if Ole Miss had won the SEC West and gone to the NC game? Probably so, but we can't say for sure.
2017 Alabama: Auburn defeated Alabama in the Iron Bowl to win the SEC West, but would go on to lose to UGA in Atlanta. This allows Saban to lobby his way into the CFP based on the quality loss argument. Alabama's only goood wins at the time of playoff selection were vs #17 LSU and @ #24 Mississippi State. OSU who finished behind Bama in the CFP selection had beaten #16 Michigan State, #6 Wisconsin and #9 Penn State. In the CFP championship, Alabama got to play the SEC champion UGA (playing in conference championship games is for losers!) and won in OT.
2003 LSU: We played an absolute clunker and lost at home to an eventually 8-5 UFaG team coached by Ron Zook (whose staff schooled Saban, Muschamp and Fisher). Most years, this would be the end of a team's MNC hopes, but at the end of the year LSU got a shot in the BCS against an Oklahoma team that had been annihilated by a (good) K-State team in the Big 12 title game. I think LSU would have beaten the Trojans in NOLA, but Oklahoma was the lesser opponent. Also, without the BCS contract obligations, the Coaches' poll might have sided with USC (which would have been bs, but I digress).
2009 Alabama: Saban's only undefeated team. They beat 7-6 Tennessee at home due to a blocked FG. During the BCS title game, Colt McCoy (statistically one of the best passers in NCAAF history) went down and Texas backup Garrett Gilbert (Maybe UT fans can correct me, but he turned out to be a bust) led to Texas back to within 24-21 of the Tide before losing.
2011 Alabama: Ssban and the Tide played an arse schedule (what else is new?) and got their only quality win at home (Arkansas). After losing at home to LSU, Alabama essentially got a bye week for the SEC title game (which LSU won against UGA). Then the Tide got a ridiculous mulligan against LSU in the BCS title game which they cashed in on. LSU finished the season as conference champions with a better record than Bama against a much better schedule and 1/2 of the head to head wins (LSU's was at home, Bama's was at a neutral site), but the retardo system considers Bama champions. This result helps lead to the Playoff
2012 Alabama: Bama loses at home to TAMU, this time they actually win the SEC title game and get picked to play undefeated ND in the BCS title game. Alabama got the nod over 11-1 Oregon and K-State, which is understandable since those two didn't have conference title games. However, Ohio State had also finished their season undefeated at 12-0 but was ineligible for postseason play due to violating some arcane NCAA regulation. IF OSU was eligible, they would have played ND in the BCS championship game.
2015 Alabama: The Tide lost at home to Ole Miss (not a typo). That Ole Miss team would later give up a 4th and 25 conversion to Bert and Arkansas, which kept them out of the SEC CG. Would the CFP have given Bama another mulligan if Ole Miss had won the SEC West and gone to the NC game? Probably so, but we can't say for sure.
2017 Alabama: Auburn defeated Alabama in the Iron Bowl to win the SEC West, but would go on to lose to UGA in Atlanta. This allows Saban to lobby his way into the CFP based on the quality loss argument. Alabama's only goood wins at the time of playoff selection were vs #17 LSU and @ #24 Mississippi State. OSU who finished behind Bama in the CFP selection had beaten #16 Michigan State, #6 Wisconsin and #9 Penn State. In the CFP championship, Alabama got to play the SEC champion UGA (playing in conference championship games is for losers!) and won in OT.
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 1:06 pm
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:22 pm to Mithridates6
he's lucky to have a couple of those rings
he's unlucky that he missed out on a couple others
all in all, he's the GOAT CFB coach and he created his own luck most of the time
2011 will always be horseshite but whatever
he's unlucky that he missed out on a couple others
all in all, he's the GOAT CFB coach and he created his own luck most of the time
2011 will always be horseshite but whatever
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:22 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
Is Nick Saban the luckiest coach ever?
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:24 pm to Mithridates6
Lucky that the refs never call them for holding? Im not sure I would call that luck.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:26 pm to NawlinsTiger9
quote:
he's unlucky that he missed out on a couple others
When was this? They've gotten in the playoff every year. The media was trying their damndest to sneak Bama in with an Iron Bowl win, if that had happened, Bama's "quality wins" would have been pathetic 7-5 A&M and 8-4 Auburn
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:27 pm to Mithridates6
Takes some luck to win national titles if you don't go undefeated. The media clamoring for a rematch in 2011 when most were opposed in 06 is a real head scratcher. The 06 game of the century was 100 times better than the 2011 version. Gene Smith should have self imposed a bowl ban in 2011 then its Ohio State vs ND. All that being said his teams got to those games and won.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:28 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
Nick Saban the luckiest coach ever?
he could have had
imagine Belichick/Brady vs Saban/Brees in the same division
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:29 pm to Mithridates6
They're one Kick Six away from a 3-peat
They would have beaten Florida State like a red-headed stepchild that season, IMO.
They're also like 1 or 2 plays from being in the mix for other titles.
Basically, the best players in college football have had to do incredible things to keep them from winning almost every year for the past decade+.
They would have beaten Florida State like a red-headed stepchild that season, IMO.
They're also like 1 or 2 plays from being in the mix for other titles.
Basically, the best players in college football have had to do incredible things to keep them from winning almost every year for the past decade+.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:32 pm to NawlinsTiger9
That game would've gone into OT without the kick 6 though. I agree it was like all of Saban's luck being repaid in one instant though
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:33 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
Is Nick Saban the luckiest coach ever?
Probably the smartest in terms of manipulating the system by leveraging Alabama's brand to make the title or playoff in spite of consequential losses to the only good teams they play in the regular season and weak OOC opponents, it's horrible for the sport and the notion one earns things by results on the field but he's good at it
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:34 pm to DisplacedBuckeye
I think this is now my favorite "in" gif.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:37 pm to Mithridates6
Saban has been the recipient of some great luck and also some horrible luck. It balances out, and yes, he’s the GOAT
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:37 pm to Mithridates6
The era has certainly helped him.
Under the old poll system Saban would have less than half his titles.
He certainly wouldn't have a 2011 championship as LSU would play some Big12 team in the Sugar Bowl; probably wouldn't have 2003 as USC was #1 in both polls heading into the bowls and no team in the history of polls has ever won their bowl game and dropped their #1 ranking.
2012 probably wouldn't have that title because AP voters didn't give a shite if you were on probation.
2017 Bama wouldn't be voted #1 as they would've played a lesser opponent in a lesser bowl.
So the era has been kind to Saban...
2003
2011
2012
2017
Championships don't happen under the old Poll system and old bowl alliance. I bet Bobby Bowden sure would've liked to coach in this era instead of the 90's - he would've liked the do-overs after the Miami losses. And I'm sure Carroll would've liked the playoff format.
Under the old poll system Saban would have less than half his titles.
He certainly wouldn't have a 2011 championship as LSU would play some Big12 team in the Sugar Bowl; probably wouldn't have 2003 as USC was #1 in both polls heading into the bowls and no team in the history of polls has ever won their bowl game and dropped their #1 ranking.
2012 probably wouldn't have that title because AP voters didn't give a shite if you were on probation.
2017 Bama wouldn't be voted #1 as they would've played a lesser opponent in a lesser bowl.
So the era has been kind to Saban...
2003
2011
2012
2017
Championships don't happen under the old Poll system and old bowl alliance. I bet Bobby Bowden sure would've liked to coach in this era instead of the 90's - he would've liked the do-overs after the Miami losses. And I'm sure Carroll would've liked the playoff format.
This post was edited on 12/2/19 at 9:41 pm
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:37 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
2003 LSU: We played an absolute clunker and lost at home to an eventually 8-5 UFaG team coached by Ron Zook (whose staff schooled Saban, Muschamp and Fisher). Most years, this would be the end of a team's MNC hopes, but at the end of the year LSU got a shot in the BCS against an Oklahoma team that had been annihilated by a (good) K-State team in the Big 12 title game. I think LSU would have beaten the Trojans in NOLA, but Oklahoma was the lesser opponent. Also, without the BCS contract obligations, the Coaches' poll might have sided with USC (which would have been bs, but I digress).
2003 USC lost to an eventual 8-6 Cal team, LSU didn't start rolling in terms of the national title discussion until early November that season (Miami lost to Tennessee in the Kellen Winslow II "I'm a PHUCKING soldier" game and #6 Washington State lost to SC around that time too) we got some help but we sure earned it
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:39 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
2011 Alabama
Oklahoma St FG was good.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:41 pm to NawlinsTiger9
quote:right here.
he's unlucky that he missed out on a couple others
all in all, he's the GOAT CFB coach and he created his own luck most of the time
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:47 pm to SoulBrotha91
It shouldn't have mattered (put LSU and USC in you idiots!) But I'd argue that LSU losing at home with no offensive touchdowns to true freshman (I think) Leak and the UF trash was worse than USC losing on the road to Aaron Rodgers, JJ Arrington and co.
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:49 pm to Mithridates6
quote:
But I'd argue that LSU losing at home with no offensive touchdowns to true freshman (I think) Leak and the UF trash was worse than USC losing on the road to Aaron Rodgers, JJ Arrington and co.
Cal was (objectively) 2-3 entering that SC game
Posted on 12/2/19 at 9:57 pm to SoulBrotha91
True and we should go by quality wins rather than "good" losses anyway
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