In case you missed it
Have you been reading your Sporting News lately, Tiger fans? In case you missed it, just wanted to let you know about some recent rankings of college football coaches by veteran sportswriter Tom Dienhart. He's got former LSU coach Nick Saban No. 7 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC. LSU coach Les Miles is No. 10 in the league and No. 41 out of 66 BCS coaches.
How can this be? Apparently, Dienhart's opinion of Saban as a coach has not been affected by the colors of the latest school he's working at or what he said at a press conference with the Miami Dolphins.
"A genius is at work," Dienhart says of Saban. "Sure, Saban was a dud in the NFL. Who cares? His tunnel vision and maniacal focus will make him impervious to the Crimson hanger-on-ers who poison this program. Still not convinced? Well, if Saban won it all at LSU -- which I like to call "Alabama Light" -- he can do it in T-town."
I don't know about the "Alabama Light" part, unless he's talking about NCAA probation history.
But for the most part, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Bama has more tradition than most, including LSU, but LSU has been clearly better than Alabama since Saban came to Baton Rouge in 2000 and was kind enough to leave so much, including excellent players several of whom will be around for two more seasons.
LSU fans, and unfortunatley this includes a lot of the media around here, like to say Saban will have it tough at Alabama for awhile. Truth is, Saban is inheriting a much better program at Alabama than he did at LSU. People forget that. Alabama won 16 games the last two years. LSU won seven games in the two seasons before Saban's arrival and had all sorts of other problems.
Saban will win quick at Bama.
On Miles, Dienhart says, "Miles deserves credit for keeping the Bayou Bengals at a high level. Now, here's a legit question: Can Miles reach the summit like Saban? If Miles didn't do it last year, he never may get it done. Is that a clock I hear ticking?"
Well said. Miles has done well. Finally, some clarity. This proves that most of Miles' popularity rests within the borders of Louisiana that exploded after a nice win over Notre Dame on the day Saban went to Alabama. There is a fine line between love and hate. This is why Saban is hated so much in Louisiana. Miles has benefitted from displaced love. He caught LSU on the rebound.
So much emotion. But if you look at things objectively, like Dienhart has and myself before him, Saban is one of the best coaches in the business and Miles is really just getting started.
I would not have ranked Miles 10th, though. I would have him a bit higher. Some say it is tougher to maintain a high end program than to build one. That could end up being Miles' legacy.
He is off to a very good start. The key will be for him to continue recruiting as he did this past season and to continue making quality hires such as new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.
My rankings will be out in August. Until then, I told you so.
How can this be? Apparently, Dienhart's opinion of Saban as a coach has not been affected by the colors of the latest school he's working at or what he said at a press conference with the Miami Dolphins.
"A genius is at work," Dienhart says of Saban. "Sure, Saban was a dud in the NFL. Who cares? His tunnel vision and maniacal focus will make him impervious to the Crimson hanger-on-ers who poison this program. Still not convinced? Well, if Saban won it all at LSU -- which I like to call "Alabama Light" -- he can do it in T-town."
I don't know about the "Alabama Light" part, unless he's talking about NCAA probation history.
But for the most part, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Bama has more tradition than most, including LSU, but LSU has been clearly better than Alabama since Saban came to Baton Rouge in 2000 and was kind enough to leave so much, including excellent players several of whom will be around for two more seasons.
LSU fans, and unfortunatley this includes a lot of the media around here, like to say Saban will have it tough at Alabama for awhile. Truth is, Saban is inheriting a much better program at Alabama than he did at LSU. People forget that. Alabama won 16 games the last two years. LSU won seven games in the two seasons before Saban's arrival and had all sorts of other problems.
Saban will win quick at Bama.
On Miles, Dienhart says, "Miles deserves credit for keeping the Bayou Bengals at a high level. Now, here's a legit question: Can Miles reach the summit like Saban? If Miles didn't do it last year, he never may get it done. Is that a clock I hear ticking?"
Well said. Miles has done well. Finally, some clarity. This proves that most of Miles' popularity rests within the borders of Louisiana that exploded after a nice win over Notre Dame on the day Saban went to Alabama. There is a fine line between love and hate. This is why Saban is hated so much in Louisiana. Miles has benefitted from displaced love. He caught LSU on the rebound.
So much emotion. But if you look at things objectively, like Dienhart has and myself before him, Saban is one of the best coaches in the business and Miles is really just getting started.
I would not have ranked Miles 10th, though. I would have him a bit higher. Some say it is tougher to maintain a high end program than to build one. That could end up being Miles' legacy.
He is off to a very good start. The key will be for him to continue recruiting as he did this past season and to continue making quality hires such as new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.
My rankings will be out in August. Until then, I told you so.
posted by Glenn Guilbeau at 7:25 PM
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