Posts Tagged ‘Nick Saban’
A Few New Coaches Hit the Trail Running
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 1, 2012
A rookie head coach can offer the keys to the kingdom. That’s the usual pitch for a new staff, one that plays on the idea that unlike his predecessor, in most cases, the new head coach will be one who builds the dynasty. So be the missing piece: play immediately, for starters, but also become known as the one recruit who turned the tide. It’s a pitch that’s worked for generations, heading all the way back to Bear Bryant’s initial turn at Texas A&M more than a half-century ago and continuing with coaches like Urban Meyer, whose 2006 class at Florida ranks among the best in college football history. And a few rookie coaches, as well as a few coaches completing their first full recruiting haul – those who had only a few months to fill out a class last winter – are again using this approach to land a top 10 class in 2012.
Tags: Al Golden, Alabama, Brady Hoke, Florida, Kevin Sumlin, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Nick Saban, Ohio State, Recruiting, Texas A&M, Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp
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230 Things to Occupy 230 Long Days
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 13, 2012
There are 230 days until Aug. 30, when a few lucky teams jump ahead of the curve and start the 2012 season on a Thursday, not a Saturday. And for that, the teams in question — I know Utah is one — earn our love and affection. But that lies way, way in the future, and the question now becomes how we fill our college football-free days. For 230 days, here are 230 ideas. Not all are possible; some of us are pretty busy, and the next time I do 230 things over 230 days will be the first time, I must admit. But nonetheless, the list:
Tags: Alabama, Bo Pelini, Bob Bostad, Chad Morris, Dana Holgorsen, Ed Orgeron, Gary Campbell, Greg Mattison, Gunter Brewer, Kansas, Les Miles, Matt Barkley, Miami (Fla.), Mike Stoops, Nebraska, Nick Saban, Odell Haggins, Ron Cooper, Sal Sunseri, Terry Bowden, Todd Monken, Trent Richardson, Utah
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Alabama’s Upcoming Roster Overhaul
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 10, 2012
L.S.U. and Alabama met three times over a 461-day span: Nov. 6, 2010; Nov. 5, 2011; and Jan. 9, 2012. Even after last night’s disappointing loss, the Tigers took the three-game series. Each of those two victories were by a field goal, unlike Alabama’s 21-0 win in New Orleans, and the first, back in 2010, came in Baton Rouge. So does familiarity breed contempt? Not exactly. In the case of Alabama and L.S.U., close quarters — three marquee pairings in a year and two months — have only added another layer of respect to this long and meaningful SEC rivalry.
Tags: Alabama, Courtney Upshaw, DeQuan Menzie, Dont'a Hightower, Dre Kirkpatrick, L.S.U., Les Miles, Mark Barron, Marquis Maze, Nick Saban, Trent Richardson, William Vlachos
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L.S.U. Has a Week to Reflect on Alabama
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 10, 2012
L.S.U. has eight months to dwell on last night’s loss, which means that the Tigers can wallow in self-pity all the way until September, if they so chose. I’d advise against that: as L.S.U. well knows, any extended time spent treading water means you’re losing ground in the do-or-die SEC. What the program has is days, perhaps a week, to look back at a disastrous Monday night – any additional time would leave L.S.U. behind the eight ball in recruiting, and that’s not a good idea anywhere, but especially in, yeah, the SEC.
Tags: Alabama, B.C.S. National Championship Game, Florida, Greg Studrawa, Jordan Jefferson, Kirby Smart, L.S.U., Les Miles, Nick Saban, Tyrann Mathieu
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“Big Boy Football” Is Alabama Football
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 10, 2012
If we hadn’t been here before, having seen Alabama and L.S.U. tussle in Tuscaloosa back in November, you’d think the B.C.S. National Championship Game was following in the footsteps of the 2001 Orange Bowl. High-grade offenses reduced to jelly under a defensive-themed onslaught; one otherwise stalwart, experienced team left flailing in frustration, unwilling to adapt to an opponent’s challenge. Offense? It was here, but with matching caveats. Against F.B.S. opponents not named Alabama, L.S.U. was averaging 36.8 points per game. Against F.B.S. opponents not named L.S.U., Alabama was averaging 34.7 points per game.
Tags: A.J. McCarron, Alabama, B.C.S. National Championship Game, C.J. Moseley, Greg Studrawa, Jordan Jefferson, Kevin Norwood, L.S.U., Les Miles, Nick Saban, Trent Richardson
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Five Things to Bet on Happening Tonight
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 9, 2012
L.S.U. will win because L.S.U. doesn’t lose – in 2011, at least. But what about in 2012? The calendar has turned: Alabama has had two months to consider what went wrong in Tuscaloosa in early November, not to mention roughly six weeks to devote itself fully to all things Louisiana State University. That might not mean anything, considering the way the Tigers have played all season; whether 2011 or 2012, L.S.U. might be impossible to beat. But it’s a whole new ballgame, a new year and a new game, and all bets are off. Having said that, here are five things you can bet on happening tonight:
Tags: A.J. McCarron, Alabama, B.C.S. National Championship Game, Brad Wing, Cade Foster, Dre Kirkpatrick, Drew Alleman, Jarrett Lee, Jeremy Shelley, Jordan Jefferson, L.S.U., Marquis Maze, Nick Saban, Tyrann Mathieu
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L.S.U. Loses, Wins the National Title
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 9, 2012
Leave it L.S.U. to factor heavily into another case of split-title drama. The Tigers were there the last time college football couldn’t sufficiently determine a national champion, back in early 2004, when L.S.U. won the battle but shared the spoils of war. Nick Saban was there, as he’ll be tonight, but Saban was then clad in Purple and Gold, not Crimson and White: then the coach at L.S.U., Saban led the Tigers to a 21-14 win over Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl — then the national championship game. Three days earlier, in the Rose Bowl, U.S.C. doubled up Michigan, 28-14, to end the season 12-1. What to do, what to do, what to do…
Tags: Alabama, B.C.S., B.C.S. National Championship Game, L.S.U., Nick Saban, The A.P. Poll, U.S.C.
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L.S.U.’s Quest for a B.C.S. Era First
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 4, 2012
Only one team in the history of the B.C.S., Florida State, has bounced back from a title game loss to win the national championship in the following season. The Seminoles did so in the bowl system’s childhood years: after losing to Tennessee in 1998, F.S.U. beat Michael Vick and Virginia Tech to cap the 1999 season. Others have come close, such as Oklahoma and Ohio State, which lost successive B.C.S. National Championship Games in 2003-4 and 2006-7, respectively. No team has won back-to-back undisputed national titles since Nebraska from 1994-5; U.S.C. came close, but preceded its 2004 championship — since under some dispute — with a shared title with L.S.U. in 2003.
Tags: Alabama, B.C.S., B.C.S. National Championship Game, Florida State, L.S.U., Les Miles, Nick Saban, Tyrann Mathieu, Zach Mettenberger
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