Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates??

saintswhodi · 12-06-2004, 10:02 AM

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...7771157190.xml

While at Michigan State, Saban tried two convince Gates to play football instead of basketball, but he didn't, transferred to Kent State, and played b-ball until he wasn't drafted and went to the NFL. Now tell me that isn't an eye for talent. And we don't want this guy as our coach why?

4saintspirit · 12-06-2004, 10:12 AM

Of course we want him -- the times picayune had an article saying we should open the doors for Saban. Since Baton Rouge is so close to New Orleans the Saints may have a better chance at him.

saintswhodi · 12-06-2004, 10:15 AM

You may want him, and I know I want him, but a few people on this board told me there is no way we should take a shot at him cause he won\'t be any better. They pointed to his record at Michigan State and said \"we don\'t want that.\" I hope we open the bank to get him and give him whatever he wants.

mutineer10 · 12-06-2004, 10:53 AM

I think Saban could be a good NFL coach, and (unlike some) I think he might even be willing to try, but what scares me off is the recent history of darling college coaches who\'ve flopped in the NFL. The big two:

Many expected Steve Spurrier to take the NFL by storm, instead he refused to accept the fact that his style of offense simply didn\'t work in the NFl, especially when he brought in many of his former underlings (instead of real NFL talent) to try and execute it. Danny Wuerffel? Come on, he couldn\'t even make it with the Saints!

Butch Davis has finally been put out of his misery in Cleveland, after earning great respect for resurrecting a troubled Miami Hurricanes team. But while he seemed a brilliant judge of talent in the college ranks, bad personnel decisions became his downfall in the NFL. Lousy draft picks, Davis\' inability to decide on (or to remain faithful to) starters at key positions (Tim Couch/Kelly Holcombe, Lee Suggs/William Green), and questionable FA moves (Jeff Garcia?) were some real problem areas.

This is not to say I believe Saban would suffer the same fate, but I fear he might. And of course for every Spurrier there\'s a Jimmy Johnson, I suppose. I certainly don\'t have the answer for our coaching woes, but I sure hope Benson does...

saintswhodi · 12-06-2004, 11:04 AM

Mutey, Saban was on Belichek\'s staff in Cleveland, and is still a consultant and good friend of Belichek\'s. Like I told someone else, if Bill Belichek trusts his opinion, I sure as hell do. And the difference between him and some of those other college coaches is he has had some experience at the NFL level. He knows how it works. Makes him different than other candidates. We\'ll see what happens.

BlackandBlue · 12-06-2004, 11:19 AM

If Saban were to leave LSU, then I would prefer that he coach the Saints. But, outside of Crennel, wouldn\'t he have his pick of where to go? Clayton reported on ESPN radio that Saban wants complete control over player personnel as well. I\'m not saying that\'s a bad thing, especially for the Saints, since the head coach is over player personnel in it\'s current state, but would that hurt his chances? Does he want to take over for this team with all the drama that surrounds it?

mutineer10 · 12-06-2004, 11:22 AM

Hmm, I had forgotten about that, but it\'s essentially the type of criteria I\'m looking for. I didn\'t remember that he\'d coached under Belichek, but I\'d sure rather we get someone with some NFL experience under their belt...

saintswhodi · 12-06-2004, 12:37 PM

Hey BNB, I don\'t disagree with you. I think at this point, Saban and Crennel both have the pick of where they wanna go. The main problem is exactly as you outlined, will Benson be willing to make Loomis take a back seat and give Saban that much control? I hope he does. He has to know how much ticket sales would go back up with not just a coaching change, but Nick Saban??? The resurrector of LSU? He can\'t pick a better person to pin his hopes on. And, in your opinion, do you think that would change the attitudes some of those around Baton rouge have about the Saints and New Orleans in general? I think so. If nothing else, Benson should pursue Saban and give him the option to turn it down. That woudl convince me of an attitude change in the team.

BlackandBlue · 12-06-2004, 01:45 PM

LSU fans feel like Saban could walk on water, so yes, I think that would help change the persona of the team.
People bring up Loomis when referring to player decisions, more than I think they should. I know he structures the contracts, and he\'s very good at that. But I would be suprised if he had any input as to who they sign or who they pick in the draft, outside of, \"we can\'t afford him.\" I put together projects all day at work, but the one thing I\'m not allowed to do is sign off on them. That responsibility falls to my superior, regardless of whether or not she reads through them. I think the same thing applies here. They may require Loomis to sign off on all personnel moves, but from an evaluation of talent standpoint, I don\'t think, nor do I think he has any desire, to give any input as to the subject.

saintswhodi · 12-06-2004, 01:50 PM

You could be right BNB, but I have read a couple of articles now that say Loomis has made some of the decisions. I too was under the impression it had fallen more to Halsett since Mueller was fired so I believe you are right. Whatever the case may be, whatever input he HAD should be strictly relegated to the cap, and hands off personnel altogether.

12-06-2004, 10:02 AM	#1
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...7771157190.xml While at Michigan State, Saban tried two convince Gates to play football instead of basketball, but he didn't, transferred to Kent State, and played b-ball until he wasn't drafted and went to the NFL. Now tell me that isn't an eye for talent. And we don't want this guy as our coach why?

12-06-2004, 10:12 AM	#2
4saintspirit 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 690	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? Of course we want him -- the times picayune had an article saying we should open the doors for Saban. Since Baton Rouge is so close to New Orleans the Saints may have a better chance at him.
4saintspirit 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 690

12-06-2004, 10:15 AM	#3
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? You may want him, and I know I want him, but a few people on this board told me there is no way we should take a shot at him cause he won\'t be any better. They pointed to his record at Michigan State and said \"we don\'t want that.\" I hope we open the bank to get him and give him whatever he wants.

12-06-2004, 10:53 AM	#4
mutineer10 Site Donor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,739	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? I think Saban could be a good NFL coach, and (unlike some) I think he might even be willing to try, but what scares me off is the recent history of darling college coaches who\'ve flopped in the NFL. The big two: Many expected Steve Spurrier to take the NFL by storm, instead he refused to accept the fact that his style of offense simply didn\'t work in the NFl, especially when he brought in many of his former underlings (instead of real NFL talent) to try and execute it. Danny Wuerffel? Come on, he couldn\'t even make it with the Saints! Butch Davis has finally been put out of his misery in Cleveland, after earning great respect for resurrecting a troubled Miami Hurricanes team. But while he seemed a brilliant judge of talent in the college ranks, bad personnel decisions became his downfall in the NFL. Lousy draft picks, Davis\' inability to decide on (or to remain faithful to) starters at key positions (Tim Couch/Kelly Holcombe, Lee Suggs/William Green), and questionable FA moves (Jeff Garcia?) were some real problem areas. This is not to say I believe Saban would suffer the same fate, but I fear he might. And of course for every Spurrier there\'s a Jimmy Johnson, I suppose. I certainly don\'t have the answer for our coaching woes, but I sure hope Benson does...

12-06-2004, 11:04 AM	#5
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? Mutey, Saban was on Belichek\'s staff in Cleveland, and is still a consultant and good friend of Belichek\'s. Like I told someone else, if Bill Belichek trusts his opinion, I sure as hell do. And the difference between him and some of those other college coaches is he has had some experience at the NFL level. He knows how it works. Makes him different than other candidates. We\'ll see what happens.

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12-06-2004, 11:19 AM	#6
BlackandBlue Kinder, gentler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,889	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? If Saban were to leave LSU, then I would prefer that he coach the Saints. But, outside of Crennel, wouldn\'t he have his pick of where to go? Clayton reported on ESPN radio that Saban wants complete control over player personnel as well. I\'m not saying that\'s a bad thing, especially for the Saints, since the head coach is over player personnel in it\'s current state, but would that hurt his chances? Does he want to take over for this team with all the drama that surrounds it?

12-06-2004, 11:22 AM	#7
mutineer10 Site Donor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,739	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? Hmm, I had forgotten about that, but it\'s essentially the type of criteria I\'m looking for. I didn\'t remember that he\'d coached under Belichek, but I\'d sure rather we get someone with some NFL experience under their belt...

12-06-2004, 12:37 PM	#8
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? Hey BNB, I don\'t disagree with you. I think at this point, Saban and Crennel both have the pick of where they wanna go. The main problem is exactly as you outlined, will Benson be willing to make Loomis take a back seat and give Saban that much control? I hope he does. He has to know how much ticket sales would go back up with not just a coaching change, but Nick Saban??? The resurrector of LSU? He can\'t pick a better person to pin his hopes on. And, in your opinion, do you think that would change the attitudes some of those around Baton rouge have about the Saints and New Orleans in general? I think so. If nothing else, Benson should pursue Saban and give him the option to turn it down. That woudl convince me of an attitude change in the team.

12-06-2004, 01:45 PM	#9
BlackandBlue Kinder, gentler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,889	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? LSU fans feel like Saban could walk on water, so yes, I think that would help change the persona of the team. People bring up Loomis when referring to player decisions, more than I think they should. I know he structures the contracts, and he\'s very good at that. But I would be suprised if he had any input as to who they sign or who they pick in the draft, outside of, \"we can\'t afford him.\" I put together projects all day at work, but the one thing I\'m not allowed to do is sign off on them. That responsibility falls to my superior, regardless of whether or not she reads through them. I think the same thing applies here. They may require Loomis to sign off on all personnel moves, but from an evaluation of talent standpoint, I don\'t think, nor do I think he has any desire, to give any input as to the subject.
	The waiting drove me mad.... I don't want to hear from those that know... Everything has changed, absolutely nothing's changed Eddie is a....draftnik?

12-06-2004, 01:50 PM	#10
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Saban has a connection to Antonio Gates?? You could be right BNB, but I have read a couple of articles now that say Loomis has made some of the decisions. I too was under the impression it had fallen more to Halsett since Mueller was fired so I believe you are right. Whatever the case may be, whatever input he HAD should be strictly relegated to the cap, and hands off personnel altogether.