[turbotom]

Greatest college coach of all time?

[Spartan Havoc]

If you are referring to how badly he cheats, then yeah.

[BamaChamps]

lol prove it. As for the question he's definitely up their with Bear Bryant who won 6 championships in a longer period and a bunch of SEC titles. Saban can surpassed him and be the undisputed greatest coach of all time depending on how long he coaches college before retiring or leaving.

[WeWantTheVest]

I don't think he's even the best Alabama coach of all time, at least not yet. If he sticks around though, he easily could be the greatest ever.

[Major Seahawk]

In the BCS era? Sure. All time? Doubt it

[turbotom]

Originally Posted by BamaChamps

...he's definitely up their with Bear Bryant who won 6 championships...

Winning today is definitely much harder than when Bear Bryant was coach. Also, everybody won "championships" every year in college football back then.

[Beatnik Husker]

Originally Posted by turbotom

Greatest college coach of all time?

I think a 3 peat would secure GOAT status... but when you consider the limitations on schollies in the modern game, the advancements in athletic/strength training at the HS level, and the proliferation of quality coaching/opponents...

I'd say he's AT LEAST in the top 3 all time, and without a doubt the best active coach.

[Canadian Speed]

The only knock against him... ONLY knock against him, was how interested he was in the Reggie Bush issues. The reason it's a knock in my eyes is simply one of suspicion at this time. He's gotten great players in recent year and he may not be running a 100% clean program... But until somebody can come out and prove otherwise, he's gotta be top 3. And now that things have calmed down a bit on the matter, Joe Pa still has to be in that conversation... For better or worse.

But really, it's super hard to have this conversation because there are so many different aspects of what the "greatest" means. Saban may be winning games and championships, but he's not changing the game and he isn't really having an impact on it's development or anything like that, as was the case with a coach like Bill Walsh, who may not have won a ton of games over many years, but who's impact on the game is incomparable.

In other words, Saban is doing very well at doing what other coaches have done in the past.

[turbotom]

Originally Posted by Canadian Speed

But really, it's super hard to have this conversation because there are so many different aspects of what the "greatest" means. Saban may be winning games and championships, but he's not changing the game and he isn't really having an impact on it's development or anything like that, as was the case with a coach like Bill Walsh, who may not have won a ton of games over many years, but who's impact on the game is incomparable.

While Saban isn't innovating within the game, from what has been written about him, his innovations are more focused on management and development of coaches around him. He's winning games with very well coached and disciplined "old man football."
...of course, A&M beat him and I suspect the on-field innovations will be his undoing. It sure would have been nice to see 'bama and Oregon go at it.

[WeWantTheVest]

Originally Posted by turbotom

It sure would have been nice to see 'bama and Oregon go at it.

Yep. If he thinks A&M is hard to stop, he would love Oregon's offense. Could have been the best match up in the BCS era.