I keep hearing that Richt will never be a Saban. I kind of find that interesting especially after looking back at Saban's whole career. Yes, the man has one 2 NC in his coaching career, but you want to talk about suffering disappointing losses.
1995- MSU record 6-5. Not bad, first year and program was just starting to come up
1996- 6-6
1997- 7-5
1998- Losses to Colorado State, got blown out against Oregon, and a loss to Minnesota to go along with 2 other losses. They had the talent to beat #1 OSU and highly ranked Notre Dame but somehow lost to those teams. Saban was heavily bashed because of MSU's untimely turnovers, and defensive lapses that cost the team games against far inferior teams one writer stated. Now isn't he a defense mind. How could that be the reason the lost?
1999- Good season
2000 lSU- 8-4. Lost to UAB. Wonder if they have more talent than LSU?
2001- 10-3 Great season
2002- LSU is a top ranked team to start the preseason. Finish 8-5
2007- 1st year at Bama. 6-6 with a loss to Louisana-Monroe. LOUISANA MONROE. Guess they just had more talent? Coaching probably wasn't a factor
2008- Had a great year. Spanked our rearends. Then suffered, a beating to a Utah a non BCS team in the bowl game. Pretty sure that Bama had quite a bit more talent than them.
2009- Did something for the second time that Richt hasn't. Had a perfect record and was clearly the best team in teh country.
2010- Pretty good so far, but I guess USC was more talented??
My point is this: Saban is a great coach. One of the best not doubt, but clearly he has lost a fair share of games that he should not have. Probably more than Richt.
This is the man, many consider to be the ultimate coach in college football. Go back and look at some of his loses. Really disappointing and unexplainable.
I know, he has 2 NC. Didn't write this article because I wanted to make it look like he wasn't a good coach. I think he probably is the best. Just wanted to point out that the best have even lost their fair share of games. For Saban, he has won some he shouldn't have, but he has also lost a fair share of games that he had not business losing.
GO DAWGS