[MyTurn2Raise]

[ QUOTE ]
Can someone please explain to me why Saban is considered to be such a coaching god? He had one good year at MSU, and only had one year with less than 3 losses at LSU, the obvious BCS year. He just seems like a decent coach, but more Zook than Meyer.

[/ QUOTE ]


bummer...you're going to make me knock one of my adopted teams--LSU

ok, for quite some time, LSU was pretty overrated as a program for a decent span of time

beginning with the #1 year of 1958, LSU was a top 20 fixture through 1973
1960 and 1966 were the only 2 years out of the 16 year span the TIGERS were not in the final top 20. 8 of those years were top10 with 2 more at #11.


Then, there is a gap
they go 74 to 81 without being rated

The tigers are rated from 82-88 (except for 83) with a top 5 in 87 and #10 in 86. A nice little run, but not the peak or the sustained high success of the other run

then, another gap

from 89 until Saban took over, the Tigers were only ranked twice
1996 and 1997 at #12 and #13 respectively


so, what we have is a program that was once a dynamo and fans still alive from that era. Before Saban took over, LSU merely had the past history of success, but wasn't exactly a top notch program on the national scene anymore.

Right away, Saban coached up the players left to him and got them ranked. They were ranked in 4 of his 5 seasons, 2 top 5, and a national title. More than that, he stocked the cupboard so that the successor couldn't help but be successful. Saban put rivals ranked #1 and #2 classes together for his last two completed recruiting seasons.

Basically, Saban brought back LSU football to the level that those old alums remember it as a child, teen, and/or young adult. The 58 through 73 era was back.

Naturally, he is viewed as a savior to a very vociferous fanbase.


Saban's MSU time isn't overly impressive. He overachieved one season with a year-in and year-out mediocre program and cashed it in for a better job at LSU. Timing is everything.

However, he made the most of that chance and brought LSU back to being one of the name programs in the country.
That is how his reputation has been built.


Oh yeah, he's very good at massaging his rep and making it seem larger than it really is.