"Was a coaching graveyard & he fixed it": ESPN analyst Rece Davis heaps praise on Nick Saban for turning around LSU's fortunes
Nick Saban, one of the greatest coaches, won seven national championships, including six at Alabama. Notably, Saban won his first national title in 2004 at LSU.
Although Saban tasted most of his success elsewhere after his triumph with the Tigers, ESPN analyst Rece Davis believes that the coach was a cornerstone for LSU. On Saturday, since Week 11 of "College GameDay" was being held in Baton Rouge, Davis highlighted why Saban's debut national title with LSU was critical for the program.
"Of the multitude of things that make him (Saban) the greatest coach in the history of college football, there's obviously the championships. He's at the top of the list because nobody has won more." Davis said to WBRZ. [Timestamp: 00:34]
Davis continued to wax lyrical on Saban.
"But, and I don't mean this disparagingly at all, he fixed this place. I grew up in the south. LSU, never consistent. Could never sustain. For 50 years, it was a coaching graveyard, and he fixed it." Davis said.
Saban won LSU its first national title since 1958. Since he left the Tigers after the 2004 season, LSU won the national championship in 2008 under coach Les Miles and in 2020 under coach Ed Orgeron Jr.
Nick Saban opens up on return to LSU, this time as an analyst
Nick Saban coached LSU for five seasons and left after the 2004 season. He retired from coaching earlier this year and now works as an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay." At the start of Saturday's episode, Saban said:
“It’s great to be back after 17 years of being called tiger bait. Terry and I loved it here and it was a great experience for us. Winning the first national championship is always the best.”
Saban remains the fifth-winningest coach in Tigers history, with 48 wins. He had a 28-12 record in Southeastern Conference play and won two conference championships with the Tigers.