SpringTiger, Nicky Saban went undefeated at home in 2004, so that's not quite accurate. That's about the only thing that happened in 2004. It was a lot like this year when the games in Tiger Stadium were boring. The win in The Swamp saved that year. The bogus call against Auburn basically messed us up for the rest of the year it seemed. It wasn't Saban's best year of coaching. He admitted he did some things he probably shouldn't have. You know, like when he took a hot M. Randall out and put in a cold JR after we were on top already. Then he went back to Randall and he just wasn't the same for whatever reason. Saban had times when he messed up. Now, the UAB loss is when this team was still messed up in the head from the Dinardo era. We had Josh Booty calling his own play, etc. That loss wasn't that big of a deal later on because it didn't happen in year three or four (it was a big deal at the time though). The Georgia game was probably the best I've ever seen Georgia play. Most of their fans admitted that. They were just about perfect and we were unsure of who our QB would be. In Saban's worst games he usually had inferior QBs adding to the problem. I think the 31-0 loss to Bama at home was the worst though. That was pretty sad even if we didn't have a great QB. Yes, Saban definitely had some bad moments that people tend to forget. As for Miles, I don't like to compare him with Saban, but judge him on his own as an individual coach. And I wouldn't call the Florida game a close loss. It was close in the first half, but it was over in the second. We were trying to get back in it, but never really could. A good portion of this game was players not executing. But I do blame the blocked punt and punt return game on the coaching staff. That formation sucks and CJ has looked awkward returning punts back there since day one. If they keep him there, hopefully he will improve. Still, he risked fumbling another one later inside his own ten. Those things are coaching and they hurt us dearly on Saturday.
I'm guessing you missed the 2003 Florida game, 2004 Troy State & Oregon State, & Georgia games? Did Saban have his team ready to play in these games? Troy St.?? Seriously. Not even including 9 loses in 2000 or the 2002 seasons. As far as talent, DiNardo despite his faults, left tons of talent. Off the top of my head, Bradie James, Trev Faulk, Jarvis Green, Domanick Davis & Josh Reed would start for the 2006 team & any team Saban ever fielded IMO. Saban signed some great talent, and Miles signed a great 2006 class. Below at least to me, indicates some of talent Miles inherited is not at the same level Saban used in 2003 for the NC: You pick: WR: Michael Clayton or Dwayne Bowe? OL: Stephen Peterman or Peter Dyakowski? C: Ben Wilkerson or Brett Helm? CB: Corey Webster or Chevis Jackson?
I don't know of anyone that has ever compared Les Miles to Lou Saban. So I guess I don't see the point of this thread. Its an unfair comparison anyway. Lou Saban coached professonal football in the 1960's and 70's. Saban is credited for assembling the offensive line that got nicknamed the "electric company" b/c they were responsible for "turning on the juice" ( aka OJ Simpson. You may recall him, a former Heisman trophy winner who was a real "slasher" type runner. He was known for knifing through defenses). But in any event, if Miles ends up coaching pro ball I guess you could make the comparison once he has a track record like, lets say three or four years. You'd have to give a chance to really put his own thumb print on a team before you'd try and compare him to Lou Saban. We'll see maybe at some point in the future Miles may leave us for greener pastures in the NFL. Maybe he'll even make his announcement on Christmas day. That would suck !
Huh? Perhaps a comparison between Saban and Miles Standish is now in order? For the Saban lovers/Miles haters out there, I have yet to find a proper theme song, but I have found a theme poem you can use. It's taken from Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening": The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And Miles to go before I sleep, And Miles to go before I sleep.
Ah, my 8th graders study that poem...interesting interpretation there. I'll bet none of my middle schoolers will come up with that one.
