After taking LSU to a national championship, an SEC championship, 48 wins and five bowls in five seasons, coach Nick Saban knew leaving the Tigers wouldn't be easy.

"It's the most self-gratifying experience I've had as a coach," Saban said. "But I've always been driven by challenges -- the next challenge that makes driven people want to take advantage of the next opportunity."

That next opportunity will come as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

"It's a tremendous challenge for me," Saban said after accepting the job on Christmas Day, "and a great opportunity for me and my family."

Ultimately, Saban's decision to leave LSU for the NFL came down to more than money, although the money won't hurt. Saban and the Dolphins have agreed to a five-year deal worth almost $5 million per year.

After leading LSU to the 2003 national championship, Saban was only in the first year of an $18.45 million, seven-year contract at LSU when the Dolphins made their offer on Dec. 22. At the time LSU athletic director Skip Bertman admitted there was little LSU could do to sweeten the pot and reiterated that Saban never asked for anything more, but Bertman knew LSU was in trouble when the Dolphins offered the one thing Saban wanted more than money: control over personnel and his coaching staff.

"We did everything we could," Bertman said.

"We brought in all kinds of people to talk to Nick, and we changed his mind several times, but quite honestly this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a football coach, with the control that he'll have and the ability to be able to handle football situations off the 100-yard playing field."

Saban will be difficult to replace, but Bertman has known about the Dolphins' opportunity long enough to put together a list of candidates. One possibility is former Cleveland Browns and University of Miami coach Butch Davis, who is currently unemployed, and current LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

Then again, LSU surprised the college football world when it hired Saban from Michigan State five years ago.

"We're not going to rule out anybody," Bertman said. "In a perfect world, announcing the next coach on Jan. 2 would be wonderful. But this is a 10- to 20-year decision. We want to be right. We don't want to be fast. I want to speak to each person eyeball-to-eyeball. This is a job that requires a fit. A coach here has to show the kind of leadership and characteristics that Nick showed."

While Bertman will now turn his attention toward finding a new coach, Saban will turn his immediate attention toward one last game with the Tigers, who will play Iowa in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando on New Year's Day.

"We're taking it in stride," LSU defensive end Melvin Oliver said. "He's got to do what's best for him and his family. We understand fully. The coach is dedicated, and this won't be a distraction."

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LSU Tigers Message Board
ProudDad0507 Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Jun 27, 2009	November 29, 2009 3:35 am Score: 147 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: A win is a win! Well guys, at least LSU pulled it out this time with better clock management! I got worried a bit after kicking a FG in OT, thinking that they were going to heave it to the end zone every play. That being said, I think overall our Tigers played a very good game. We had all kinds of pressure on Mallett in the first half and rattled him early. He sailed passes high and away, not even gi ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
HogfaninTexas Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Nov 6, 2006	November 29, 2009 1:17 pm Score: 139 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Great Game I absolutely love watching games that are as hard fought as the game was last night, even though the outcome wasn't the one I would've chosen.  Cogratulations on the win Tiger fans! Just as I mentioned on the game thread last night, Jefferson grew up before our eyes last night.  Just as I've been saying for the last several, several weeks... he is young, and with experience, h ...(more) Reply to this thread (12 replies)
freshd Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Oct 3, 2006	November 30, 2009 6:39 pm Score: 80 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Likely Matchup Before all the trash talk happens after the bowls are announced, I was hoping to get an LSU perspective of a likely LSU vs PSU match up in the CAP 1 Reply to this thread (4 replies)
Libbypop Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Dec 11, 2006	November 23, 2009 12:25 pm Score: 139 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: YES BLAME LES Why he says it best.  Just an excerpt from his press conference: QUESTION: "After Brandon LaFell's catch got you in field goal range, why risk a pass at all?" MILES: "Well, we, we talked about runs. And um, um, didn't want to turn it over. And fran ...(more) Reply to this thread (10 replies)
weegdog905 Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Nov 19, 2006	November 22, 2009 8:04 pm Score: 148 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Time for The Boot Well I know it's hard for you Cajuns to get that last loss out of your head. I for one was left scratchin' my ole noggin' while watching you boys. Before talking about The Boot I'll just say a few words about that game from what I noticed. First...I thought yall played decent for the entire game. Even though Ole Miss did rack up some yards your D did limit them to FG's for much of the g ...(more) Reply to this thread (19 replies)
GeauxBeaux Reputation:83 Level:All-Star Since:Oct 11, 2009	November 24, 2009 11:26 pm Score: 126 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Oh c'mon Les! I was watching some sports talk show a few days ago or maybe it was yesterday, forgive me, but this week has been crazy. They were talking about Les and that dreaful game. Apparently, he said in an interview that he didn't have the time to get the field goal unit on the field so they tried to spike it. In another interview, Les said that he had no intention of spiking and that it wa ...(more) Reply to this thread (10 replies)
LSU7777 Reputation:49 Level:Rookie Since:Aug 23, 2009	November 29, 2009 10:07 pm Score: 107 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: For the first time in my life I'm embarrassed!!! 4 point game in the 3rd quarter and people start leaving.  We are in overtime against a conference opponent on national television with bowl implications on the line and half the stadium is empty!  This is embarrassing.  Everyone who sits around me expressed their opinion that they could no longer support this coaching staff but that is no reason to leave the stadium with so much on ...(more) Reply to this thread (7 replies)
ntblight21 Reputation:92 Level:All-Star Since:Oct 31, 2008	November 22, 2009 1:29 pm Score: 107 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Battle for the Cotton Bowl This game saturday night will decide who goes to the Cotton Bowl. If Arkansas wins they will go and if LSU wins they will. I see a high scoring game but Arkansas pulls out the win. Last year was not a fluke, it was coaching. When you guys had Saban we were out coached every game. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Petrino is by far a better coach than Miles. Also, if a coach looses three in a row ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
GeauxBeaux Reputation:83 Level:All-Star Since:Oct 11, 2009	November 7, 2009 7:47 pm Score: 124 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Why we lost... Please note (before you read the rest) that this isn't a bashing thread about the spineless leach Nick Saban or his team. In fact, this really isn't about them. It's more about why we as a team lost. 1. Questionable Coaching Decisions a) A 2 point conversion attemped that early in the game. Why Les? I know, it's your rival, you really want to win. I get that, ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
Libbypop Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Dec 11, 2006	November 25, 2009 7:46 am Score: 185 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Then who would you.... After berating and bashing the coaching staff to anyone that would listen invariably the question comes.  "Les get's the boot then who would you go after?"  So my Bayou Bengal Bretheren Who indeed?  If I may in order of MY preference: Chip Kelly - Oregon.  Offensive coordinator brain in a head coaches body.  Runs a very e ...(more) Reply to this thread (4 replies)
The Ville 3 Reputation:83 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 14, 2009	December 1, 2009 8:41 am Score: 71 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Kragthorpe drawing SEC - LSU interest? Some media outlets have written looking for contact info on deposed U of L coach Steve Kragthorpe, saying he'll be on the short list if Gary Crowton is let go as offensive coordinator at Louisiana State. Kragthorpe said he had three job offers during his farewell news conference today on campus, including one from a BCS school. This doesn't constitute an offer, but it might m ...(more) Reply to this thread
LSU7777 Reputation:49 Level:Rookie Since:Aug 23, 2009	November 23, 2009 11:23 pm Score: 102 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Where you at Cajuninca. Quit hiding! Lets hear it.  Lets hear how none of this falls on Miles shoulders cajuninca.  You always defend your beloved dumb arse Lester so lets hear it.  Where are you?  Where have you gone?  Defend the pass play called when LSU was in field goal range, defend the retarded onside kick in the 2nd quarter, defend calling the same play twice when he went for 2, def ...(more) Reply to this thread (3 replies)
HogfaninTexas Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Nov 6, 2006	November 22, 2009 11:31 am Score: 134 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Blame Les Miles?? Not quite... As you have seen, I've posted in the past about how I don't believe that Les Miles is the right fit for LSU.  In case you didn't see that, the main reason is the fact that LSU always has a high-caliber team... offense and defense.  I followed Les very closely at OK State, and I would compare him to Houston Nutt, when he was at Arkansas.  They both have been notorious for winning gam ...(more) Reply to this thread (19 replies)
LSU7777 Reputation:49 Level:Rookie Since:Aug 23, 2009	November 29, 2009 9:44 pm Score: 105 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Lester Proves Again He Can't Manage a Game!!! Wow,  you would have thought ole Lester would have learned something from the Ole Miss game but obviously not.  Once again Lady Luck shined down on our boy Lester.  He almost single handedly cost us the Ark game.  With a 1:05 left in the 4th quarter Lester burned our last time out.  What the hell was he thinking?  Why on earth would someone do that?  We need a fi ...(more) Reply to this thread (9 replies)
PollyParrot8 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 10, 2009	November 9, 2009 10:39 am Score: 137 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Just Being Honest I'm just calling it as I saw it.... Les, let down our boys!!!! Plain and simple. The refs were cheating and you should have packed up the team and walked off the field. They couldn't finish the game and made money off of it if you had done that and that leads me to this... You, Les Miles, whom I have always taken up for and respected, are making me wonder, after Saturday's game, whether or not you ...(more) Reply to this thread (23 replies)
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