LSU

Say goodbye to ... Nick Saban     
Coaching record: 48-16 in 5 seasons.
Reason for leaving: Took Miami Dolphins' job

Saban wasn’t there long enough to be a legend, but by leading the Tigers to a pair of SEC championships and the national title in 2003 – their first since 1958 - his accomplishments were nonetheless legendary.

His 48 victories in his five years at LSU were the third most in I-A, and he won at least 8 games every year in Baton Rouge. A total of 21 of his players were taken in the NFL draft. He also held up his end of the bargain on the other end, highlighted by 25 members of the ’03 national championship team being named to the SEC academic honor roll.

Bill Haber / AP file Les Miles

Hello ... Les Miles
Coaching record: 28-21 in four years at Oklahoma State.
2005 prediction: 9-2

Miles’ rep was built by turning around an Oklahoma State program that had 11 of 12 losing seasons prior to his arrival. Beating mighty Oklahoma twice raised his profile even higher.

But now he’s at a program that figures it’s entitled to reside in the top 10 in the country and compete for a national title at least every other year.

There will be no grace period, either. Saban left the cupboard full, and then some. Some key contributors from the ’03 national title team remain and three of his last four recruiting classes were ranked in the top four nationally by SuperPrep magazine.

Long-term outlook: Miles must do at least as good a job as Saban of keeping the in-state talent home. That alone will enable him to keep this train on the tracks. How he responds to this pressure-cooker environment he now finds himself in is impossible to tell. But he must respond immediately, for he will be on a very short leash.

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