Here is a another way to look at AMAB hiring Saban. We all know Tommy Tuberville is a good coach (even though we don't like him very much). His last 4 years have been the best ever at Auburn. Why? At least in part because Mike Shula was at AMAB. We all know Nick $aban looked into the LSU job in 99 because we don't share our state with a near rival. He averaged 9 wins a season at LSU--to do that a AMAB, he will have to vastly improve the AMAB talent. That's going to be hard to do with Tuberville at Auburn. Saban and Tuberville may help cancel each other out, leaving LSU in a much better position to win the SECW consistantly. It's all good. (Remember, when someone asked for the rosy scenario after the Florida game, I had an answer--and hit it pretty close!) GEAUX TIGERS
Also, Saban's hiring is solidifying our fanbase- the timing with the big win last night backfired on him.
Never really thought about it that way, but with what TT has accomplished, and NS rep, they could really, really, cancel each other out as far as Bama recruiting. We just have to keep out Tx, and South Ala connections going strong. Really just might play into our hands big time....
Its not just NS and TT cancelling each other out. Those schools draw from the same regional talent pool recruited by UGa., FSU, Tenn. and GaTech. That, I believe, will be the downfall of Saban: Bama, like LSU and all of the other schools mentioned, will get their share of 4-star and 5 star recruits. Saban's specialty, however, has been getting the 3-stars and coaching them up, guys like Corey Webster, Travis Daniels and Lionel Turner. Its a given that the best of that 3-star pool from Louisiana will be at LSU. At Bama, Saban will have to devote considerable recruiting resources to those players, because Auburn, FSU, etc will be after them too. Not having that market cornered will rob NS of the source that could make the difference in being a top 20 program, and a top 5 program.
Also, keep in mind that Saban was only 2-3 against Tubby while at LSU. Tubby may very well own Saban at Bama as well (probably worse).
Saban has already won. Doesn't he have a guaranteed contract. Have you figured out how much he makes a week? He is fixed for life. In addition he just hired Steele of Florida State as his DC. I'll bet Steele is a great recruiter as well as a good coach who has a lot of ties with Florida HS coaches. Saban will get coaches that will have ties in each regeon. Getting talent won't be a problem. The fact that Miami, Florida State, and Tennessee are all down from a few years ago will also help. He will just show the recruits pictures of him holding the LSU trophy and give his speech about how many ex LSU players he competed against in the NFL. That is a powerful message to a young recruit.
You are correct. Here's hoping LSU coaches will counter with video tape, circa 2004, of NS saying he wasn't interested in the Miami job, and more tape (from last week) saying he wasn't interested in the Bama job.
All we have to do is build a wall around the state of Louisiana and recruit from here and we'll be fine. That won't be difficult to do, in my opinion, at least as long as we have a good program. Kids want to play for their state school so their friends and family can see them. We have plenty of talent here in Louisiana to choose from, so if we just keep them at home our team will have plenty of good athletes. Saban will have more difficulty recruiting where he is going because there's lots of competition farther east of here and fewer athletes per capita. Of course he'll try to get kids from here, but all Miles has to tell them is that they probably won't be playing for Saban by the time they're seniors and they'll choose a proven program in their home state over going away.
I hear what you're saying and I hope you're right. But ever since it was confirmed that Fredo was going to be Bama's coach one sentence has kept running through my head: JaMarcus Russell's from Mobile, ALABAMA. Fredo poached Alabama's Mr. Football for the Tigers and he didn't turn out too bad, did he?
