Nick Saban’s name is synonymous with transforming Alabama football into a perennial juggernaut, but before his legendary tenure in Tuscaloosa, Saban cut his teeth in the SEC at LSU.
After serving as defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns, Saban took the reins as Michigan State’s head coach for five seasons.
He then moved south, leading LSU from 2000 to 2004. During his time in Baton Rouge, Saban posted an impressive 48-16 record and secured the first of his seven national championships.
Now retired after a storied career at Alabama, Saban reflected on his LSU days during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
As a new addition to ESPN’s College GameDay panel, Saban revisited his early years in Baton Rouge and admitted he still looks back on that chapter with fondness – and some regret.
“The people treated me great there, and I appreciate that. Terry and I loved it there. Probably made a mistake going back to pro ball from there,” Saban admitted.
“But only way we could go back to college was to go back to Alabama, but that’s a great rivalry. The LSU-Alabama is a great rivalry.”
After leaving LSU in 2005 to coach the Miami Dolphins, Saban inherited a team that had gone 4-12 the previous season.
He initially found some success, finishing 9-7 in his first year after a six-game win streak to close the season. But his second season ended with a disappointing 6-10 record, marked by Miami’s controversial decision to sign quarterback Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees – a move that has been widely scrutinized in hindsight.
In 2007, Saban returned to college football to lead Alabama, replacing Mike Shula. Reflecting on that pivotal career decision, Saban noted that his move from Baton Rouge to the NFL likely shaped his eventual return to the college ranks.
Saban’s success at Alabama is undisputed.
Under his leadership, the Crimson Tide achieved 16 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins and six national championships, cementing his legacy as the greatest coach in college football history.
While his NFL stint didn’t pan out as planned, Saban’s reflection suggests a life-altering “what if?” … If he hadn’t left LSU for the Dolphins, he might never have made the leap to Alabama.
That chain of events ultimately solidified his place in college football history.
Having said that, if he hadn’t bailed for the NFL, maybe he would have stayed at LSU for the long-haul … Imagine???
