Seriously... When Les Miles took over the majority on this board said things like "Miles will never amount to anything close of Saban", and "Miles is winning with Saban's Talent". It wasnt Miles' coaching ability winning the games--it was Saban's Talent... Now, you guys all of the sudden think that actual coaching is the reason and Miles is better than Saban. Is this sudden turn because Saban chose Bama (the one team hated by everyone in the Tiger Nation)??? Is the sudden hatred for this guy simply because he chose ALABAMA??? Please someone answer this truthfully... LSU loved his cocky attitude and ego when he was here....now not so much--all of the sudden. You guys said that he'd never come to Alabama...but then he did and you were in shock and as much as some of you dont want to admit it, you KNOW that with his recruiting abilities (because that's what mattered when Miles took over) alone, that Alabama will become a powerhouse once again. No, Im not talking about the "Bear Days", but a top 10 team year in and year out. It wont happen over night...but give them 2 or 3 years and it will be there, as much as you doubt it and hate it, it will be. This post really isn't to stir the pot...Just to get honest answers. For those of you that think nothing will change from the Shula years to the Saban years just dont know football. Everyone in the SEC knows that Shula was a horrible motivator and had the most vanilla offense and horrible playcalling in the history of college football. The offense will change and the defense will probably become more agressive. Alabama football is going to be totally different next year. I'm not talking BCS or anything but they will be a lot better. Bama played a lot of teams good but faded in the end due to coaching. Saban is superior to Shula there and everyone here knows that. With all that said, should be a very interesting year....And God forbid Bama beat LSU at home with their former coach. I can imagine the "Fire Les Miles" threads already.
Since Miles came here, LSU has enjoyed two 11 win seasons back to back, and we have signed top recruiting classes every year. No, everyone wasn't sold on him when he first came here, but his accomplishments have spoken for themselves - it doesn't have to do with Saban. We didn't love Saban's attitude when he was here. We loved that he won, which in turn made us love him - his flaws included. Miles' recruiting has been better than Saban's was, and Saban's recruiting isn't quite as legendary as you make it seem... He was smart enough to lock down the state, which many good coaches could do at LSU - just not the ones that preceeded him. Bama should definitely improve under Saban. Shula was not a good coach. Saban is. That being said, I do not think you will be a consistent top 10 team...
People here are tired of Saban threads much less one from an Alabama fan- and I don't mean that to be ugly but you asked for opinions so let 'em talk. Frankly, I'm surprised anyone was kind enough to repeat the same things that have been posted in here MANY times already. If you're wanting to argue the thread takes on a new meaning.
More alike than you're admitting...even you know that. Both schools coming off probation Both schools having to compete with an in-state rival having more success right now. Plus schools in surrounding states raiding their recruits. Both schools hire a coach that's been to the promised land but failed in the NFL Both schools floundering as also rans in conference lately. Both schools lacking in National exposure recently because of mediocrity Let me know if I'm missing anything. And don't bring up Titles from decades ago, because most of today's recruits were not even in kindergarten yet when that happened, so they're irrelevant to this discussion. Fact of the matter is, in the eyes of most High School juniors and seniors, Bama and South Carolina are an awful lot alike. Every now and then, SC might step up and battle for 2nd or 3rd place in the east. Just like BAMA is doing in the west. Look at your program without those crimson glasses, and you know it's true. You're hoping that hiring a guy who was tremendously successful elsewhere will bring that to you. Just like Carolina did with Lou Holtz, and now with Spurrier. Admit, it you are scared as hell that maybe, just maybe Saban benefitted from the right situation in Baton Rouge as much or more so than LSU benefitted from Saban coming to town. You pray that Saban's success didn't depend heavily on being the only big fish in a talent rich pond like Louisiana. You fear the possibility that Saban at Bama will look an awful lot like Saban at Michigan St. Good, but nothing to brag about. Deep down inside you're afraid that Saban will amount to not much more than a grossly overpaid Shula, and that Bama will never again rise to the levels that you gumps a banking on happening as if it were prophecized in the Bible. Face it, you have more concerns about your new coach than we do and you know it.
I sometimes question some of the things said about Saban here... but I cannot blame the LSU fans for dispising him. We at Alabama feel the same way about Fran. We wish we could play him at A&M, but barring a bowl game, that isn't likely to happen. Saban left LSU in much the same way, and he went to NFL. LSU had no chance of ever actually playing against him. Even Alabama's slim odds of playing against Fran are infinitely better. Then Saban comes back to college, to a school that you play every year, in the same conference, in the same division. LSU gets the chance to do something that Alabama never got... to go against the coach that left them. Of course, Ole Miss does as well against Tuberville, but OM poses no real threat to AU. Not since Eli graduated.
No Sir, I dont think so. Saban is not landing enough recruits to build up a top team. He only managed one from Louisiana, one that had his scholarship PULLED because of character problems and thats IT. While LSU not only managed to get who they wanted (except for McKnight) but they snapped two from Bama. Not to mention that Bama will have strong in-state competition for its recruits with Auburn and sometimes with even LSU when it comes to the TOP guys.
Concerns??? No... No concerns at all. I hated every minute Shula was head coach and didn't defend him when they fired him--even though we had NO CLUE who the next coach was. Hell, my HS coach could have done a better job... I'm excited about the new season and the exposure that Alabama has been getting with the addition to Saban. Ask youself...How will you react to Saban being 1-0 against LSU next season? There is a possibility of Bama beating you at home next year. It will feel like a serrated knife in your stomach wont it? Be sure and bring barf bags to Ttown! :thumb:
There are a few differences in South Carolina and Alabama. Alabama has won the SEC title in the last 8 years and a National title in the last 15. South Carolina has never won the SEC. Alabama is still the "fan favorite" in its own state. However, both pulled in strong recruiting classes last year. I think USC is slowly getting to the point of getting ready to battle for the East. It was an uphill battle... they had Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida with a 50 mile headstart. Alabama was even or ahead of the other teams in the West until Stallings left and we made the mistake of hiring DuBose. A poor coach who also couldn't control the boosters. Alabama paid heavy prices on and off the field. Now Alabama has to play catch-up as well. Shula recruited well, though not great. His classes were typically top 20. Shula was *not* a good game day coach, and he had very poor conditioning. Our players were tired by the 3rd quarter. Favorite players were commonly late to practice. Saban, we hope and believe, will bring more than just good recruiting and good calls on gameday. What the Alabama fan base really want from him is greater control of the players, greater conditioning, and a no-crap attitude. I can't speak for most Alabama fans. I know I will be happy to see: Alabama competitive in all games Alabama doing well and splitting, and preferably winning most, of the games against LSU, AU, Arky, and Tenn. Alabama winning the games it is supposed to win. OM, MSU, etc. Alabama players stronger and shoving players off the line into the 4th quarter If we do these things, the titles and wins and major bowls will follow. We have to take them a step at a time. I don't expect instant gratification. I fully expect Saban will need at least 2 full seasons, possibly more. I am excited to see an Applewhite offense. You're talking about a guy who made Rice an offensive power. The season can't get here fast enough.
