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Started By
Message
re: LSU coaching search back in 1999
Posted on 11/22/25 at 1:29 pm to ThatTahoeOverThere
Posted on 11/22/25 at 1:29 pm to ThatTahoeOverThere
quote:
When they announced Saban I was like, the guy we beat in the Independence Bowl?
I read about LSU hiring Nick Saban in the Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper and thought the same thing. How little did we know what was to come!
0
Posted on 11/22/25 at 1:32 pm to S
#jeffsmoker
Posted on 11/22/25 at 1:50 pm to mtemplet
Derrick Mason
Posted on 11/22/25 at 1:53 pm to S
Mark Emmert was chancellor back then and made the announcement of Saban being hired. Said something to the effect the if you want to catch a big fish, you have to put your line in deep water. This was in regard to the contract that was given to Saban plus the improvements to the facility that LSU had to make. Total surprise as I remember that Saban was even being considered.
Posted on 11/22/25 at 2:03 pm to goodgrin
My recollection from the earliest search I remember:
1986 - Arnsparger left to be UF AD and recommended Archer. I don’t really remember the other options, though I think Spurrier may have been involved this go round? Of course he was not known to be what he ended up being. All you knew was what was reported on the 6pm and 10pm news.
1990 - Only name I remember is Hallman.
1994 - Pat Sullivan was the choice, but LSU wouldn’t pay his buyout to TCU. I remember it to be $400k, not 100% sure. Dinardo, coming off his 4th straight losing record at Vandy and a 65-0 loss to Tennessee was the pick. Turned out ok, but pooped out.
1999 - To my recollection Dennis Erickson was rumored and most LSU fans’ I knew were excited about him. There were names like Glenn Mason that I remember too. Saban was out of left field, no smoke. I remember Jimmy Ott on his radio calling it a “coup”, but most had little knowledge of him.
2004 - I remember Saban leaving on Christmas, and within a week and change Miles was hired. Names I remember are Petrino and of course Del Rio. I think most were excited about Del Rio, but he never got to interview because he was concerned about a breach of his contract with Jax. It was said he was in his car outside of a restaurant maybe, waiting to walk in for the interview. But his agent may have advised him to let him get clarification on his contract with Jax, and LSU moved on to Miles.
2016 - Jimbo and Herman are the prominent names I remember. A lot of us were afraid Ed would end up being the choice. He was. Thanks for 2019.
2021 - Jimbo again, Riley of course. Napier’s team got his name out, but there was reportedly no interest from LSU. Kelly out of left field.
May not have all the details correct and am definitely not remembering all of the names off the top of my head. But this is my best recollection.
I remember John Cooper from Ohio St. being mentioned in one of the searches, I think 1994 would have been it.
Up until Saban’s hire everything you knew about the search was from local TV news and newspaper, maybe from ESPN. The first real internet explosion in a search was 2004.
Was also funny remembering the candidates speaking with media by their cars minutes after their interviews ended. Now we’re all amateur flight traffic controllers.
1986 - Arnsparger left to be UF AD and recommended Archer. I don’t really remember the other options, though I think Spurrier may have been involved this go round? Of course he was not known to be what he ended up being. All you knew was what was reported on the 6pm and 10pm news.
1990 - Only name I remember is Hallman.
1994 - Pat Sullivan was the choice, but LSU wouldn’t pay his buyout to TCU. I remember it to be $400k, not 100% sure. Dinardo, coming off his 4th straight losing record at Vandy and a 65-0 loss to Tennessee was the pick. Turned out ok, but pooped out.
1999 - To my recollection Dennis Erickson was rumored and most LSU fans’ I knew were excited about him. There were names like Glenn Mason that I remember too. Saban was out of left field, no smoke. I remember Jimmy Ott on his radio calling it a “coup”, but most had little knowledge of him.
2004 - I remember Saban leaving on Christmas, and within a week and change Miles was hired. Names I remember are Petrino and of course Del Rio. I think most were excited about Del Rio, but he never got to interview because he was concerned about a breach of his contract with Jax. It was said he was in his car outside of a restaurant maybe, waiting to walk in for the interview. But his agent may have advised him to let him get clarification on his contract with Jax, and LSU moved on to Miles.
2016 - Jimbo and Herman are the prominent names I remember. A lot of us were afraid Ed would end up being the choice. He was. Thanks for 2019.
2021 - Jimbo again, Riley of course. Napier’s team got his name out, but there was reportedly no interest from LSU. Kelly out of left field.
May not have all the details correct and am definitely not remembering all of the names off the top of my head. But this is my best recollection.
I remember John Cooper from Ohio St. being mentioned in one of the searches, I think 1994 would have been it.
Up until Saban’s hire everything you knew about the search was from local TV news and newspaper, maybe from ESPN. The first real internet explosion in a search was 2004.
Was also funny remembering the candidates speaking with media by their cars minutes after their interviews ended. Now we’re all amateur flight traffic controllers.
This post was edited on 11/22/25 at 2:05 pm
Posted on 11/22/25 at 2:24 pm to Champs
Sullivan was in 1995. They got Dinardo instead.
Posted on 11/22/25 at 2:26 pm to goodgrin
quote:
When the Tiger's Lair was the main LSU internet message board back then, I think LSU fans were thinking that he may have been a front runner because his wife was either from LA or an LSU alum.
Hail Reagan!
Posted on 11/22/25 at 2:30 pm to goodgrin
Jack delrio, gruden, Patterson were the big 3 .
Posted on 11/22/25 at 2:57 pm to goodgrin
Yes. I’m saying in the search to replace Archer, it was a list that included Mack Brown at UNC, Pat Sullivan at TCU and curly at usm.
Gary Crowton, mark Richt were a smokescreen for the out of left field Nick Saban.
Couldn’t believe we hired a mediocre Michigan st coach that Dinardo beat in a bowl game and laid him $1 million.
Hence, coaching hires are a crap shoot
Gary Crowton, mark Richt were a smokescreen for the out of left field Nick Saban.
Couldn’t believe we hired a mediocre Michigan st coach that Dinardo beat in a bowl game and laid him $1 million.
Hence, coaching hires are a crap shoot
Posted on 11/22/25 at 3:02 pm to goodgrin
Remember the sign that said geaux get Erickson in Tiger stadium ?
Posted on 11/22/25 at 3:44 pm to goodgrin
quote:
Saban also beat Penn State that season which was the first time in Michigan State's football history that was accomplished.
Michigan St. was also on probation for a good chunk of Saban’s tenure from Saban’s predecessor, and he was still successful.
Posted on 11/22/25 at 4:01 pm to Clockwatcher68
quote:
Hail Reagan!
and the OG Insider Yoda!
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