Change Of Heart
Two years ago, Nick Saban stood on the USC sideline and spoke to Pete Carroll before the Trojans played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Saban had just taken the Miami Dolphins job and asked Carroll about life in the NFL.
"He obviously assessed lifestyles and obviously had concerns about the NFL," Carroll said. "He decided it wasn't for him."
I remember driving through South Florida before and after the Orange Bowl that year. The only story bigger than the SC/Oklahoma game on talk radio was Saban coaching the Dolphins. He was going to be "the savior" - ha! In fact, if LSU had to play SC the following week in Jan 2004 in a mythical BCS "playoff" title game, they would have gotten killed and Saban would never have been this nightmare for the Dolphins.
“I will not be the next Alabama coach.� - Nick Saban...really?
Granted this guy did a great job at LSU, but the highest paid coach in College Football? More than Carroll, Tressel, Meyer, and Brown? Give me a break. I guess Alabama was pretty desperate to get their guy.
But remember this is the same guy that had 3 lousy years at Michigan State and couldn’t get out of the shadow of Michigan, so after one good 10 win season (which he still lost to Michigan) he jumps ship and goes to LSU. Saban is quickly becoming the Larry Brown of Football.
JJH:
PC's salary is 'undisclosed'; so, I sure as hell hope he is the highest paid college coach - as it's being earned!, not on false promises (see: pope chili-cheese fries; and now Slick Nick!) ...
Fight On!
239 Days till kickoff!
DomiNation in '07!!!
If I'm not mistaken Saban only had two seasons in his college coaching career where he won 10 or more games.
At Michigan St he went : 6-5-1, 6-6, 7-5, 6-6, and 10-2 (he didn't coach Mich St to their 10th win that final season - he was already gone for LSU so it doesn't count)
At LSU he went: 8-4, 10-3, 8-5, 13-1, 9-3
If PC had numbers like that at USC he would have been fired already. Alabama just way overpaid for a coach that's about 80% hype and 20% actual results on the field. PC should be making 10+M/year by Saban's standards.
I agree with EloiPfeiffer. Had USC not gotten screwed in 2004 Saban would just be another solid-dependable college coach right now with a bunch of 8-9 win seasons - much like Bellotti.