How about this for a first year: Butch Davis nearly wins a MNC, leaves Miami to coach the Browns. His replacement, Larry Coker, wins it all the next year with a favorable schedule and national title-caliber talent. That kind of first season look good to me for a coach that has a favorable schedule and national title-caliber talent.
The coaching decision to change QB's cost us the game. You know if Randall was on and he was on during that touchdown drive.
Think you gotta look at more than just W-L.. you have to look at WHO the L's are handed to us by. I would say that on average, any game where fans are really expecting to win (and I mean more than just the normal fan expectation, I mean UAB-type expectations) are at least twice as damaging as losses against a good opponent. Any OOC loss will not be looked upon fondly at all, esp given that it would probably be early in the season. So assuming we win all of our OOC's (no big stretch), then to me the only potential dips on the road should be UT, UF, Barn, and Bama. I would absolutely expect LSU to be able to go 2-2 in those 4, especially given that the 3 toughest are at home. And there you go. 9-2. Everyone is happy. However.. what if they go 9-2, beat all 4 of the "toughies", but lose to Az State early and Ole Miss late? 9-2 is much tougher to swallow when the team loses the expected-win games. Wonder if people will remember some of Saban's key losses early in his LSU career, or does the MNC of 03 still make those days foggy in people's memory?
No honeymoon from me...It's the National Championship or the highway. Seriously though I think he knows how the fan base is here or he wouldn't have taken the job. Believe it or not your life can be a living hell if you don't have success (ask Dinardo). I'm sure Coach Saban has made him aware of how rabid our fans can be and how they will turn on you with the change in wind direction. Looking at next years schedule (depending on the as of yet announced opponent on Nov. 15th) I honestly believe 9-2 is the LEAST we should expect.
If you don't mind a Hawkeye opinion... I would say a resounding NO... not with the talent that you have on your roster... This is a unique situation, very similar to when Stoops went to OU... OU was loaded with talent and we all know what he did his first year... To me, your schedule looks like 9-2 at worst, 10-1 more likely, and 11-0 very attainable. Good luck Tigers... I know this may sound like travesty, but you might do better going forward WITHOUT Saban... Saban was a defensive guru, and that system will stay in place with the next staff... A fresh, more explosive offensive mindset might be just what you need!
Hmm... no what we need is friggin' Tate... Im still amazed at that kids clutch throws and ability to elude.
