Years from now Tiger fans will look back and appreciate what Gerry Dinardo, Nick Saban, and Les Miles did during their respective stays in Tiger Town. Will LSU win another SEC or National Championship? I don't know nor does anyone else know. The SEC is tougher. The SEC Network and the money that it provides for the members is leveling the playing field. Not only will it be tougher for Miles, but it will be for Saban as well, and Mahlzan, and Hugh Freeze, etc, etc
I am grateful for what each has done while at LSU and we may never see another 20 years like we have experienced since 1995. In that time, LSU has won two National Championships, 4 SEC Titles, won or shared 8 SEC West Titles, been to 18 bowl games, 5 BCS Bowls, been to 9 after New Year's Day Bowl games, and won 10 or more games 10 times, won 9 or more games 17 times, and 8 or more games 17 times.
Yes, there were two losing seasons in 1998 and 1999, which lead to Dinardo's exit from LSU and ushered in the Saban era, but he did start to bring the 'magic back' in 1995 as LSU defeated Auburn in a pulsating game where Troy Twillie intercepted a pass at game's end to preserve a 12-6 in a game that I was proud to attend and I was also there as LSU clinched their first winning season in 6 years with a 28-0 shut out over Arkansas, which sent LSU to the Independence Bowl, where the Tigers beat "Nick Saban" coached Michigan State, 45-26.
The Tigers would go on to 10-2 and 9-3 seasons before the bottom fell out in 1998 and 1999, but Dinardo left enough players like Josh Reed, Trev Faulk, Bradie James, Rohan Davey, Domanick Davis, and Lebrandon Toeflield that helped Saban along with his recruits win its first SEC Title in 13 years and win its first major Bowl game in 34 years. Saban built a dominant power at LSU and won two SEC Titles and National Championship during his 5 years in Baton 6 Rouge. He handed a great program to Les Miles.
Les Miles has maintained LSU's elite status with solid recruiting classes which were the norm during Saban's stay. He has won one National Championship and played for another and won two SEC Titles during his time here and coached LSU to 5 Top Ten finishes with 4 being in the Top 5. His teams have posted 10 or more wins 7 times. The Tigers have been to BCS Bowls 3 times and played in after New Year's Bowls 6 times.
While there have been disappointments and there could have been possibly 3 more National Championships with a few breaks, it is still a record for Tigers fans to be pleased with.
A few years from now, we may be nostalgic for these last two decades. Enjoy what we have and hope for better.
These accomplishments are nothing to sneeze at.
I am grateful for what each has done while at LSU and we may never see another 20 years like we have experienced since 1995. In that time, LSU has won two National Championships, 4 SEC Titles, won or shared 8 SEC West Titles, been to 18 bowl games, 5 BCS Bowls, been to 9 after New Year's Day Bowl games, and won 10 or more games 10 times, won 9 or more games 17 times, and 8 or more games 17 times.
Yes, there were two losing seasons in 1998 and 1999, which lead to Dinardo's exit from LSU and ushered in the Saban era, but he did start to bring the 'magic back' in 1995 as LSU defeated Auburn in a pulsating game where Troy Twillie intercepted a pass at game's end to preserve a 12-6 in a game that I was proud to attend and I was also there as LSU clinched their first winning season in 6 years with a 28-0 shut out over Arkansas, which sent LSU to the Independence Bowl, where the Tigers beat "Nick Saban" coached Michigan State, 45-26.
The Tigers would go on to 10-2 and 9-3 seasons before the bottom fell out in 1998 and 1999, but Dinardo left enough players like Josh Reed, Trev Faulk, Bradie James, Rohan Davey, Domanick Davis, and Lebrandon Toeflield that helped Saban along with his recruits win its first SEC Title in 13 years and win its first major Bowl game in 34 years. Saban built a dominant power at LSU and won two SEC Titles and National Championship during his 5 years in Baton 6 Rouge. He handed a great program to Les Miles.
Les Miles has maintained LSU's elite status with solid recruiting classes which were the norm during Saban's stay. He has won one National Championship and played for another and won two SEC Titles during his time here and coached LSU to 5 Top Ten finishes with 4 being in the Top 5. His teams have posted 10 or more wins 7 times. The Tigers have been to BCS Bowls 3 times and played in after New Year's Bowls 6 times.
While there have been disappointments and there could have been possibly 3 more National Championships with a few breaks, it is still a record for Tigers fans to be pleased with.
A few years from now, we may be nostalgic for these last two decades. Enjoy what we have and hope for better.
These accomplishments are nothing to sneeze at.
