Not Everyone at LSU Was Bitter Toward Saban

The few remaining players from the Saban era at LSU did not break ranks before the game as many of the fans did.  Saban smiled when he heard at least a few fans yell, "Some of us still love you coach!", but the players waited until the final whistle to have their say.

Senior August Mangin for one, wasted no time in rushing over to hug his former mentor and give both his love and thanks for the coach that "taught us how to be champions."  Whatever Saban said to Mangin remains between the two, but from the embrace you could tell the feelings were mutual.

Mangin is not the only LSU player to acknowledge not only the love they feel toward this coach, but the fact that Saban was the man to put LSU back on top.  Many other current and former players say Saban is the reason not only for the turnaround, but the continuance that led to a second title under Miles.

To many LSU fans, this amounts to treason.  How dare they give Saban any credit for anything that's happened since he left?  Miles is the man now and he's won as many titles for LSU as Saban.

Some fans absolutely sicken when they hear the argument that Miles won with Saban's players.  With few of the Saban players left, we are beginning to see what a "Miles Team" may actually resemble.

This year LSU has had to settle for an "Also Ran" spot in the SEC standings with at least three conference losses this year.  Unlike the other two blowouts they had to endure, in this game they played toe to toe with Bama for much of the game.

In an earlier article, When Alabama Goes Into LSU's Stadium, The Last of The Saban Magic Will Evaporate, I stated that it is already apparent that changes are happening in LSU that show the Saban influence has all but slipped away.

If I was incorrect then fans can go on hating Saban, but if I was correct, fans may soon long for Saban and finally join the former players who understand what he brought there and what he meant for the team.

Then there will be a few thousand more that will not be bitter with Saban anymore, but simply missing what he brought them that changed them from players to winners.