FWIW. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=1953255 Among other things, the fans bear partial responsibility for Saban's desire to jump to the NFL this season, and Erickson/Davis are the leading HC candidates. Don't shoot the messenger.
Take a look at the date on that article. Either Maisel is a mind reader or he wrote two stories. One that Saban stayed and another that he left. Whichever one happened, old Maisel has a story ready. Wonder what the "Saban stays" story says about the fans.
I've always tenatively said that Saban was different from other coaches in that he "sensed" or "felt" what the fans gave him. Kudos or "boos" he always mentioned them in his post game talks. I know alot of coaches do that, but I noticed it wasn't just the casual honorary mention. He genuinely lauded the fans with praise when it was deserved as he also voiced his disdain when the fans were less than supportive. thanks for posting the link.
As for the names he bandies about, it just sounds like the mostly uninformed musings of a national reporter who hasn't given one-one thousandth the amount of thought to this as many of us have around here the past two weeks. His description of what it'll take to be successful at LSU, however, sounds about right. Some men, like Bobby Petrino, apparently like the relative comfort of being a potential big fish in a little Big East pond; my eye is out for LSU to snag a guy who can coach up a storm and desires--lusts for, even--the chance to take a major SEC program by the horns and not let go. That's why I get kind of excited every time I hear Jack Del Rio's name, but he's hardly the only one. Can't wait 'till it all gets under way. My guess is we have a coach by the second week of January. That's two weeks removed from all bowl games and two weeks removed from national signing day.