I was thinking of last season and all the different problems we faced recently. I had never put them all together until just this week. How the heck were we in position to make our second consecutive trip to the SEC CG with all the losses we sustained last year? How many schools would have done as well with these type losses? Lost starting QB Mauck for half the year (and most of the SEC schedule) Lost starting RB Toefield for most of the year with a broken arm. Lost starting senior Safety Damien James for the meat of the schedule. Lost #2 WR Devery Henderson for the last few games with a broken arm. Our DL was banged up most of the year with nagging injuries. Our Center, Big Ben Wilkerson had back problems most of the year. And still we were in position to win the West until the last half minute of the last regular season game. What will Saban do with a half-way healthy team this year? (crossing my fingers that we don't have key losses like that thisseason)
You know one thing I wonder about alot. What if Booty didn't get the starting job back after Rohan's injury in the FL game. What if Rohan came back the next game. He would have come into the 2001 season alot more seasoned and we may be talking about our 2001 national championship team instead of our sec championship team.
I think about it all the time. I have 2001 the season of championships video from TAF on top of my vcr. As much as everyone wanted Booty its amazing how it screwed us up so damn bad. GEEEEEZ! That's probably why alot of people don't care that such a good player as Lane didn't come here. To many bad memories of a baseball/football stud that may or may not be around. I think the fact that we still compete even with all that drama speaks greatly of the caliber of person and coach Saban is. The injury bug killed us last season. It just shows you can have all the talent in the world, but that doesn't guarantee squat. You have to be lucky as well as good. Then avoid injury at the key positions. I think our depth (with the addition of our blue chip QB's, WR's, and damn good if not blue chip RB's recruits) will pay big dividends for the next several years.
... I don't think Saban is a miracle worker. He is a good coach. Depth was a big problem last year. This year depth is not as big a problem. The qb postion could be a problem. There are some unknowns coming in that could possiliby help this season if Mauck goes down again. I know we won a SEC champsionship with Saban. Other wise his record is not any better than Dinardo after 3 year. The difference with Saban is he will not lose this team like Dinardo did. If things fall right LSU could win the SEC this year. Miracle worker is winning the SEC after losing 9 players. (Laval)
