One of the underrated storylines of College Gameday returning to Baton Rouge for LSU vs Alabama is that Nick Saban returns to Baton Rouge and this team he isn't the enemy. When Saban speaks for the first time some fans may boo but, the fact is that Nick Saban should be given a hero's welcome even if he was the enemy for so many years.
In 1998, LSU went 4-7 and 2-6 in Conference Play and 1999 was worse with LSU finishing 3-8 and 1-7 in Conference play resulting in Gerry DiNardo's firing. Nick Saban came to Baton Rouge and the Tigers quickly went 8-4 followed by a 10-3 season in 2001 where LSU won the SEC. The 2002 season was a step back with LSU finishing 8-5 but, Nick Saban's LSU career reached it's peak in 2003 winning the National Championship.
The Tigers struggled in their title defense and then LSU lost Nick Saban to the Miami Dolphins before he'd head to Alabama. Nick Saban left behind a loaded roster with great recruiting classes setting Les Miles up nicely resulting in a National Title in 2007.
One of Nick Saban's conditions when he was hired was that LSU would build a football operations building which then LSU Chancellor and former NCAA Commissioner Mark Emmert agreed to. While Nick Saban helped design the building, he never got to see the project completed before he left for the NFL.
This weekend with Nick Saban returning to LSU, he got to see the building for the first time when he filmed a segment for College Gameday.
Absolutely nailed it. This is a good listen. pic.twitter.com/i6Mjpcp6pI
— The Jordy Culotta Show (@CulottaShow) November 8, 2024
The LSU Football account shared some pictures of Nick Saban finally getting to tour the building he's responsible for.
The man who helped build the football operations building while at LSU finally gets to see it pic.twitter.com/gB65mHmF2h
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 9, 2024
Who will Nick Saban pick on College Gameday?
The moment we'll all be waiting for is when Nick Saban has to make his official Gameday pick. Will Nick Saban pick the program he won six National Titles and has a statue built and a field named after him? If not will Nick Saban pick the first place he won a National Title and the place where he likely should've never left?