Raise your hand if you think Saban will be a successful coach at Alabama.
(from Cary Estes' article in MSNBC.com): "Saban's career record in 11 seasons as a college head coach (five at LSU, five at Michigan State and one at Toledo) is 91-42-1, meaning he has won 68 percent of his games. In his own conference, that places him behind Meyer, Georgia's Mark Richt (.782), Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer (.770) and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (.756). Among coaches across the nation, Saban also is behind such notables as Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, Lloyd Carr at Michigan, Jim Tressel at Ohio State and Mack Brown at Texas. His winning percentage even trails that of Navy's Bob Johnson (.739).
The fact is,Saban has won more than nine games in a season only twice. His record during his first four seasons at Michigan State was 25-22-1. He went 8-5 during his third season at LSU. It is hard to imagine Alabama fans who are thinking national championship by year No. 3 being happy with 8-5.
What is questionable is whether his record indicates that he is worth all the hoopla and the moolah ($32 million over eight years). Alabama officials wanted Saban so badly they agreed to a contract that does not include a buyout clause should he decide to leave, which is certainly a possibility considering he has changed teams three times in the past seven years."
A good way to judge a coach is by how he performs under pressure. How does he perform in intense rivalry games?
LSU vs. Auburn: 2-3
LSU vs. Arkansas: 3-2
LSU vs. Florida: 2-3
MSU vs. Michigan: 2-3
Total: 9-11
If you think he will get them to Atlanta within the next 3 years?
I don't. He will, if he stays, but it will take longer than that.
That he will get them into a BCS bowl within 4-5 years?
I don't. He will, if he stays, but it will take longer than that.
