Question: Miles vs. Saban: Bringing the gavel down

[Crimson Surfer]

Hopefully this article will not turn into some heated Miles vs. Saban exhanges. I just thought it was an interesting read from a Louisiana perspective even though I do not agree with some of what is said in the article about Coach Saban.

Miles vs. Saban: Bringing the gavel down

My first question: Better coach, Miles or Saban?

The responses:

“Saban.”

“Saban, no question.”

“Saban.”

“Saban, without a doubt.”

“Saban, easily.”

 

[SavannahDare]

Interesting. I actually agree on almost all counts. That being said, Alabama needed a jerk ("euphemism for worse-than-jerk") to come in and straighten out our mess of a program. A "nice" guy wasn't able to do it. A "nice" guy actually made it worse.

I'll take a jerk ("euphemism for worse-than-jerk") to coach my team any day.

 

[BamaFossil]

Interesting read. Fortunately, people can adapt their styles if they feel the need to. In that vein (and to the extent the characterizations in the article are somewhat accurate), I'll take Coach Saban and bet he's already modified his interface with HS coaches if he thinks he needs to; rather than bet on Les getting better with the x's and o's.

 

[wileybb22]

I guess my only factor between the two is that I have gone thru a lot of losing years with the past coaches and for one am glad to have Nick on our side. He has something going on to pursade these kids to come to Alabama. He may not be the most likeable guy to coach for but for my selfish reasons I don't care. Les is winning with players that Nick recruited and turned that program around before he ever left. Now he's doing it at Alabama. Put them side by side and Nicks going home with me. Nice guy or great coach. Which would you pick? I think I know the answer. For me anyway...First post on this site and glad to be here...

 

[sweetbamabelle]

Saban is a great coach. BUT, what makes Saban GREAT for Alabama is that we needed someone with his personality to come in and tell the BOT and the good ole boys to stick it in their ears, he had a football program to run AND if they didn't like it, he'd take a hike. THAT is what we have in Coach Saban and THAT is why they respect him. Coach Bryant had it, and I don't think any coach we've had since him had the kahunas to stand up and tell 'em until Coach Saban walked through the the door.

That's what I think and I don't care if anyone else agrees with me. AND, if Coach Saban leaves, if we don't get someone else with that kind of personality, it's all going South in a hurry.

 

[TiderinMiss]

The timing worked out well for Bama. Had we waited another year, Coach Saban could have ended up back at LSU or at another big-time college program.

Some of their fans may hate him, but they would take him back in a heartbeat.

 

[BamaBoots]

Saban is a great coach. BUT, what makes Saban GREAT for Alabama is that we needed someone with his personality to come in and tell the BOT and the good ole boys to stick it in their ears, he had a football program to run AND if they didn't like it, he'd take a hike. THAT is what we have in Coach Saban and THAT is why they respect him. Coach Bryant had it, and I don't think any coach we've had since him had the kahunas to stand up and tell 'em until Coach Saban walked through the the door.

That's what I think and I don't care if anyone else agrees with me. AND, if Coach Saban leaves, if we don't get someone else with that kind of personality, it's all going South in a hurry.

Sweet, I believe Coach Stallings was his own man for sure.:BigA::BigA:

 

[BamaBoots]

I still think Les' inner buffoon may eventually prevail and drag the LSU program down a notch or two ... from P.C. Pachyderm in October 2008

I ageed and it happened. Will his talent save him or will he not fully utilize it. I think the latter.

Also could you explain to me why a defensive player especially would want to go anywhere else and on top of that why any defensive back would go someplace else?:BigA::BigA::BigA:

 

[Jack Bourbon]

Nice guys finish last.

 

[resmith]

Almost to a man, none of the coaches who have won national championships at Alabama were Mr. Nice Guy personalities. They were there own men, had a vision of what it took to win, and stood by those principles come he** or high water, or what the BOT thought or anyone else thought.
As CPB used to say "the fun is in the winning". I wouldn't trade CNS for anyone else in the country. I don't care how hard he works his staff-he is working just as hard, if not harder than they are. I don't care how hard he is on the players-he is trying to help them achieve excellence in everything that they do. I don't care what the media thinks of him-and neither does he-as long as he continues to run this program like he is doing. That means hard work, discipline, teaching fundamentals, running a clean recruiting program, and great attention to details.
Seems to me he sounds a lot like some of those coaches I mentioned in the above paragraph.

 

[Bama63]

Sweet, I believe Coach Stallings was his own man for sure.:BigA::BigA:

Yes, and he proved it by leaving when he wasn't treated right!

RTR

 

[kausman]

It's also important to remember that the Saban coaching at Alabama is not necessarily the same Saban who coached at LSU. He left, went to the NFL, he was humbled, and he returned to college. I think he's more flexible now than he was in the past, and I get the feeling he's trying to work on improving his "public image". It would be a much different story if Coach Saban was dealing with these high-school coaches (in the aforementioned article) now.

I, myself, had a short conversation with Coach Saban after he was first hired. Granted I'm just a fan, but he answered my questions and treated me with great respect. I will never forget that exchange.

 

[thunderz7]

Perk is a jerk too but we needed him when he was hired.

So CNS is a jerk?
Am I suposed to give em 3 points on that brainstorm?

But PLEASE = don't insult anyones mind with the "Miles is a nice guy" crap.
Less win a nice guy contest = maybe if Hitler was the only competition.

Less might win a pompous contest.
He might win a contest to see who is loudest - (unless Joe Kines and Micky Andrews enter)

Nick is a better coach.
Nick is a better jerk.
Less is a better pompous @$$.

UGA may have a "nice guy" coaching there!

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

That same coach pointed out that Saban’s arrogance had harmed relationships with coaches in the state. He pointed as one example to coach at a school in southeast Louisiana (to whom I did not talk) who had grown so sick of Saban that he wouldn’t send his prized recruit to LSU.

That statement by a Louisiana HS coach was not entirely correct. Coaches have influence but if a players wants to play at Lsu I doubt seriously that coach would stop the recruit. Its up to the recruit and his family not the HS coach. :BigA:

 

[moebert]

How they stack up...

All-time win % as college head coach:
Saban: 69%
Miles: 69%

10+ win seasons:
Saban: 3
Miles: 3

Bowl record:
Saban: 4-6 (40%)
Miles: 5-2 (71%)

National titles:
-Saban: 1
-Miles: 1

Recruiting is a push. Both Miles and Saban are two of the best in the business when it comes to recruiting. I personally prefer Saban cause he's our coach, but I don't think there is honestly a clear cut leader.

:BigA:

 

[LSU63]

I'm going to stay out of this, it'll all play out.

 

[crimson_blood]

I'm going to stay out of this, it'll all play out.

Agreed.

 

[LCN]

How they stack up...

All-time win % as college head coach:
Saban: 69%
Miles: 69%

10+ win seasons:
Saban: 3
Miles: 3

Bowl record:
Saban: 4-6 (40%)
Miles: 5-2 (71%)

National titles:
-Saban: 1
-Miles: 1

Recruiting is a push. Both Miles and Saban are two of the best in the business when it comes to recruiting. I personally prefer Saban cause he's our coach, but I don't think there is honestly a clear cut leader.

:BigA:

It's rare that numbers are able to paint an entire picture .

The clear cut leader is the coach who just went 12-2 with about half the talent to work with as the other coach who managed to post an 8-5 mark . Ask yourself this - was the 2007 lsu BCSNC team well coached ? The answer should be an obvious one .

While a shift is presently in the works , lsu has a lot more talent than what is currently on hand in T'town but , it has been developed poorly in many cases and not at all in others . The Tide defensive staff coached circles around lsu's this past season . Especially @ LB and in the secondary . After watching their bowl game , compared to rest of their season , the QB position should probably be added to the list as well .

 

[moebert]

The clear cut leader is the coach who just went 12-2 with about half the talent to work with as the other coach who managed to post an 8-5 mark .

Clear cut leader, why? Cause the media says so, cause of perception? Numbers don't lie and nothing backs up either being a clear cut leader. Yes LSU had a bad season but in case you weren't paying attention, they lost their QB and defensive coordinator. Saban went 8-5 at LSU the year after winning the SEC. Why do you give Saban a pass? In fact, a good argument could be made that it was quite a feat winning 8 games with such a young, horrible QB.

While a shift is presently in the works

Yes, the Tide is on the rise but to take LSU going 8-5 this season as an indication that they will fade is just straight up foolish. Like I said, Saban went 8-5 the year after winning the SEC at LSU, and yes it was with a talent loaded team.

The Tide defensive staff coached circles around lsu's this past season . Especially @ LB and in the secondary

Were we watching the same game? We barely beat them in OT. Look, I'm not taking anything away from our team on that win, but LSU had a QB that was throwing INT's like it was in style, all season long.

 

[LCN]

Where do I start ? Those are not points you're making , those are excuses and I belive you're doing so by reading my post about as far out of context as possible . Please re-read what I wrote and read it just as it was written because we are definately not reading from the same book .

I care about my own opinion , not the opinion of the media , which happens to be one that seems rather universally shared among those who should know - coaches and former players . Sort of like the coaches who were interviewed in the artical which spawned this thread .

If you can't see the differences in Saban & Miles , I don't think I can help you .