Anybody wonder just exactly how Nick did it? I mean I know he did it with top recruiting and great coaching...but what makes Nick Saban such a great coacch? What stands him apart from Tommy Tubberville? Tubby has had very good recruiting classes, he is at a college with a lot of tradition, and has a great fan base...So what is it exactly that Saban does than guys like Tommy Tubberville and Mack Brown can't? Mack Brown is a helluva recruiter, but for the classes he has landed...he just have at least been at the National Championship game. Once at least. I have thought about this for a while...I mean if there is anyone on this board that has played football beyond the high school level, maybe you can answer my question?
More talent and less, "We have to get bigger, faster and stronger." Does that sound familiar? Hallman and Dinardo always used to say that crap... I heard someone say once that Coach Saban is doing exactly what Jimmie Johnson did at Miami. He's recruiting talent and placing the players where their talents can flourish. We don't have the biggest defensive line in the NCAA, but it's the best because we have smart players who use the talent's that they have to their advantage. They aren't just these huge monsters that try and bullrush the QB every down. I seriously doubt Josh Reed would have had a chance at the NFL had he not been moved from running back to wide reciever.
I think you're right. Except Saban has one-up'ed Jimmy Johnson...I think Saban has more control over his players and recruits better quality of guys...character wise.
In speaking he seems to choose his words very carefully. I'm sure he does the same when speaking to the players to keep them focused on what's going on for the game and not what is going on amongst the fans, tv, etc. Besides being a great x and o coach he always tells it the way it is without being over the top, and it's been that way from day one at LSU.
Saban has been to the top of the mountain and seen the other side. I think his has a vision of what winning football looks like and he has had laser beam focus in accomplishing what he sees in his mind's eye. Recruiting, practice, personel, coaching, organization, facilities, he sees it, so he can accomplish it. On the personal side, he's obviously a man of great leadership & character or else no one, players or coaches, would buy into his vision. I'm impressed with him, to say the least.
O.K. I'd like to put a little twist on the initial question. Why do you think he could NOT do it at Michigan State?
The reasons Nick is successful? 1. He instills a businesslike, pro-style attitude towards practice and games. Players and coaches are held accountable to do their jobs right. 2. Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. Stockpiling talent is an old formula for success. 3. Attention to details. Nick is involved with everything that goes on with the football program. 4. Bertman and Emmert never tell Nick no. Support from above gives a coach confidence. 5. He's at the right place. Louisiana produces more Division I football players per capita than any other state. LSU has no in-state peers to compete with for recruits. LSU football fans are the loudest, proudest, most vocal supporters around. 6. He's a damn good gameday coach. The halftime adjustments get made . . . and they work.
