Nick Saban recently called the five years he spent as the LSU coach as the “crossroad decision for a career standpoint.”
“I think the big thing is you learn about yourself,” the former Alabama coach told Kirk Herbstreit on his “Walks with Ben” podcast.
Saban said he loved coaching in the NFL, but “I learned I like controlling your own destiny when you are in college. If you have a good program, and you are willing to recruit and get good players, it was so much harder to do in the NFL because the rules for parity.”
Had he had it to do over again, Saban said he “probably” would have stayed at LSU.
“Or, if we would’ve signed Drew Brees, I probably would’ve been happy in Miami.”
Brees, who ultimately signed with the New Orleans Saints and led them to a Super Bowl, was not cleared by the Dolphins medical staff. Instead, Miami signed Daunte Culpepper.
Returning to college – and specifically, Alabama – caused “consternation,” he said.
“That whole detour in Miami, then getting criticized for going back to college,” Saban said. “All of that, leaving LSU. All of that created consternation.
Coming back to Alabama – the people in Louisiana, who we had lots of good friends, we loved the fans and all that, and won a national championship – they all (motions with a thumbs down.)”
