It's only been 2 years, and we're on our way to doing it this year. If we don't win the SEC this year, then the frustration will start to mount. That's for sure.
According to him, he "learned about himself" with the NFL experience & how he should've been happy to stay here at LSU. Maybe that's true, maybe not. But I think it's safe to say that circumstances are certainly different than they were in any of his previous positions. It wouldn't surprise me one way or the other.
Les has 2 seasons. Looks good for him to put a SEC trophy in the case this year. Championships will come. This crap about no trophys when the man hasn't completed his third season is ridiculous. BTW, LSU (with Saban coaching) won the 2001 SECC with 3 losses. That's rare. I'm more worried about getting all those penalties and lack of concentration mistakes corrected than I am about LSU's lack of championships under Les. That's just trash talk from rivals (mainly Bama) trying to jerk our chain.
1994 DiNardo left Vanderbilt and took the head coach position at LSU. He took over a program that had six straight losing seasons and that hadn't been ranked in the AP Top 25 since 1989. DiNardo revived LSU football; bringing back the tradition of wearing white jerseys during home games and restoring LSU's reputation as an SEC powerhouse. In his first season at LSU in 1995 the Tigers opened with a loss at #3 Texas A&M (9/2/95). However, during LSU's first home game (9/16/95) DiNardo led LSU to a 12-6 upset victory over #6 Auburn, a game which went down to the last play. As a result of the victory, LSU spent the next 3 weeks in the AP Top 25 before losing to #3 Florida (10/7/95). LSU's next losses were to unranked Kentucky (10/14/95) and #16 Alabama (11/4/95). LSU finished the season by beating #14 Arkansas (11/18/95). The Tigers then went to the Independence Bowl, where they beat unranked Michigan State 45-26, who were coincidentally coached by Nick Saban, the man who would eventually replace DiNardo at LSU. In 1996, LSU began the season with a preseason ranking of #19. After LSU defeated #13 Auburn (9/21/96), the Tigers lost to #1 Florida (10/12/96) and #10 Alabama (11/9/96), finishing the regular season at 9-2. LSU went to the Peach Bowl where they beat unranked Clemson, by a score of 10-7. LSU finished the season ranked #12. In 1997, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #10. After losing to #12 Auburn (9/20/97) LSU faced off against #1 Florida in Tiger Stadium. LSU upset the Gators 28-21 (10/11/97), making the cover of Sports Illustrated in the process. The next week LSU lost to unranked Ole Miss (10/18/97). LSU's only other loss of the season was to unranked Notre Dame (11/15/97), which the Tigers avenged by beating Notre Dame 27-9 in a rematch in the 1997 Independence Bowl. LSU finished the season ranked #13. In 1998, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #9. They climbed to #6 before losing to #12 Georgia (10/3/98). The next week the #11-ranked Tigers lost to the #6 Florida (10/10/98). After the Gator loss LSU went into a tail-spin, losing 13 of the next 17 games, including losses to a #10 Notre Dame (11/21/98), #13 Arkansas (11/27/98), #10 Georgia (10/2/99), #8 Florida (10/9/99), #12 Mississippi State (10/23/99), #25 Ole Miss (10/31/99), and #12 Alabama (11/6/99). On November 15, 1999, two days after the Tigers lost to unranked Houston in Tiger Stadium, LSU chancellor Mark Emmert fired DiNardo with one game remaining in the season. DiNardo was given the option to coach the game against Arkansas (the Battle for the Golden Boot), but DiNardo declined. Instead, offensive line coach Hal Hunter was named interim coach, leading LSU to a 35-10 victory over the Razorbacks. Nick Saban was named as DiNardo's replacement on November 30, 1999, and guided the Tigers to the 2001 SEC championship with many you know the rest of the history. I will go into purse stealing again , that destoryed DiNardo he was hard as a coach , .He turned the program around I do not give 2 cents what you think or what you say ! The proof is in the 35 to 10 victoy of the Razorbacks under the offensive line coach Hal Hunter. Saban followed a system of getting in state players that DiNardo started !
It is definitely understandable to view Saban as the enemy now. He chose to coach at a team that LSU plays yearly and I guess in a way you can say he sold off his relationship with us for cash. I just don't think it is accurate to totally play off what he did for our program. Really a great post. You may be right that Miles could have done it, there is little way of telling, but Dinardo did not have what it took. He started getting things back on track, but things crumbled around him and he wasn't able to keep us afloat by sheer will. One rare thing that Saban has in spades is will and vision. Mark Emmert also helped a lot, I think. I will always be grateful for the Academic Center for Athletes. I will say that Dinardo started the revival, but Saban really took it to the next level. There is really little comparison between what Dinardo did and what Saban did. And Miles has taken what Saban did to new heights. If he is able to get some hardware, Miles really will be one of the best coaches ever at LSU. Hell, he probably already is, flaws and all. I just don't think it should be totally glossed over that Saban is as well. All that said, Saban is the past and Miles is the future.
