Alabama's Loss to LSU Would Be Horrific for Recruiting and Nick Saban's Legacy

If Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide fall to the LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship, the program will face a major setback to not only their reputation, but also their execution as a legendary football program.

Saban, known around the sports world as one of the most powerful names in football, faces one of the biggest tests of his career when his Alabama Crimson face an undefeated LSU team in the National Championship.

While LSU opened as one-point favorites, Alabama comes into the game as heavy underdogs as LSU has taken roughly 70 percent of betting action to date.

Alabama and LSU, both hailing from the SEC, are elite defensive powerhouses that typify the southern style of play. Regardless of the victor, the team will represent the sixth-straight BCS title to come from the SEC.

The dominance of the conference, evidenced by the hype of the regular-season matchup between the two teams, proves the continued success of the schools as they are repeatedly at the top of the standings.

But for Alabama, this game could wind up serving the school with more harm than good.

The Crimson Tide enters the game with a certain controversy behind their name, as the team has already had a chance to take down LSU earlier this season. Despite finishing in second place in their own division, the virtue of their schedule has allowed them to take on LSU once more for a chance at the title.

However, the facts of the matter remain that if Alabama fails to convert in their second stab at LSU, the team could face serious damage to their football program.

Perhaps it would have been better if Alabama had been shafted by the BCS rather than lose another game to LSU?

I make no point to hide the fact that I'm an Oregon writer; my conference is the Pac-12 and I understand how good of a team both Alabama and LSU are. In fact, when I take off my journalist glasses and look with my bias, I find myself rooting for Alabama in this game. As an Oregon fan, I can't stand LSU. But like Alabama fans, I am forced to respect them.

As an Oregon fan, I also understand what it's like to lose in the National Championship. To come that close and finish the season without a victory and a trophy for the show room is devastating. If Alabama was placed in a different BCS Bowl and pulled off a victory, it might be regarded as better for the program. That way, they could take a trophy, still hide behind being screwed over by the BCS and come back next year for a run at the title.

This game features a marquee coaching matchup between Nick Saban and Les Miles. Saban, the more legendary of the two, comes in as one of the most highly paid professional coaches ($5,997,349) in all of football.

Nick Saban is a special coach. He is the type of man that comes in and can change a system, much like he's done with Alabama.

With the talent that he brings, which is undeniable, it is imperative to match with an impressive on-field display. Football would continue in Alabama. But it would be a difficult blow to the Alabama program. For the coach considered to be the best in the league to lose to Les Miles twice? 

His record (54-12) is one of the best in the league. While he touts two national championships to his name already, this Alabama team is one of the best he’s ever had the privilege to coach.

With as many NFL-ready defensive players as Alabama has, they also have a stronger offense than they’ve had in recent years. Their star running back, Trent Richardson, is the highest-rated rusher on NFL mock drafts and is slated to be a top-ten pick.

Outside of Richardson, the defense is expected to take a large blow from the NFL draft next season. Dre Kirkpatrick, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron and Dont’a Hightower are all expected to leave the team and become first-round picks next season.

With the program that he currently coaches, this could be Saban’s last chance to convert a championship trophy for his school.

This could become increasingly clear, of course, if Alabama loses this game.

Recruits, who are typically drawn to contemporary success over historic franchises or “special” coaches, would see Alabama lose its own conference two years in a row.

With the recent success of Auburn and LSU, players who may have found their way to Alabama in previous seasons could be convinced otherwise. Other programs out west, like Oregon and USC, have brought in more recruits from the South than ever before.

Alabama is a franchise with lots of success in their past, but with the advantages that they bring to the table, it becomes increasingly important to live up to their reputation.

Their inability to defeat LSU in the season was a major blow to the program. However, compared to what it would mean to the university to lose to the team for the second time in the same season, the first game would be seen as something far more insignificant.

Instead, recruits and fans from across the nation will focus on what makes the football program successful to begin with. For Alabama, that means history, coaching and defense.

LSU and other SEC powerhouses are now offering many of those same facets, except occasionally stronger and better. Les Miles is a highly-favored coach among players across the league, and the LSU defense is now seen as one of the best of the last decade.

The SEC continues to churn out successful seasons, but the BCS National Championship Game has an entirely separate dimension for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

For Alabama, the game represents the future of the football program and the legacy of their famed coach.

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