| With Nick Saban departing from Michigan State to coach
the LSU Tigers there are a lot of questions left unanswered as well as holes
to fill in the program. The biggest question is why did he leave?
Though most point immediately to a larger contract that's a ignorant
assumption, because we all know Saban could have easily gone to MSU, explained
the offer from LSU, and gotten a matching contract. It's not about
the money. Only a fool would suggest that.
And it's not about stress. Saban is only going to find the pressure
cooker of Louisiana even worse than here in Big 10 country, with a much
lesser program to work with currently. So what's left?
Simple -- what's left is that Saban was looking for a reason to get out rather
than stay at MSU. This could be because perhaps he didn't get along
with his team as well as the players let on (I still am convinced there was
some problem between Saban and sophomore QB Ryan Van Dyke -- witness Saban's
absolute refusal to play Van Dyke until he had no other options in a few
games this past season when Bill Burke clearly was not getting the job done),
or it could be because he wanted to move his family down south into
a warmer climate. However, there is one simpler explanation that probably
compounded the above.
Despite the MSU program having what most nationally consider a better season
than intrastate rival U of M, MSU still got the shaft and U of M will probably
go to the lucrative BCS Orange Bowl, while MSU will play at the Citrus Bowl.
It's really that simple -- for whatever reason MSU always plays second fiddle
to Michigan. Even when it's clear the programs are equal or MSU is
better. And perhaps Saban just couldn't put up with that crap anymore and
realized no matter what he did all that was going to matter was Michigan,
not Michigan State.
And to be honest if that's the case, maybe it's just as well Saban is leaving.
Because if it is the case, then he wasn't cut out for the job.
Stanford coach Tyrone Willingham is rumored to be the a top candidate to
replace Saban, but if you ask me current San Fransisco 49ers head coach Steve
Mariucci has the job if he wants it. Not only is Mariucci a Michigan
native and good friends with basketball coach Tom Izzo, but he also is going
to want out of San Fransisco after the dismal season the 49ers have
put together. And quite frankly the 49ers probably wouldn't fight to keep
him to badly after this season's record. Mariucci's style and personality
would also be a great match for the program. |
