Storyline: It’s not that Saban and Pitino abandoned “their school” (LSU and UK, respectively), deciding to coach an archrival. Each went to the pros first, came up short, and then decided to return to their comfort zone — college ball.
Kentucky and Louisville square off in the annual Battle for the Bluegrass Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. As usual, no hate has been lost between these archrivals. And probably no one understands the significance of this rivalry more than Louisville coach Rick Pitino, a man who has strolled the sidelines for both the Wildcats and the Cardinals.
For most UK fans, if Christian Laettner is equal to Adolf Hitler then Pitino is equal to Benedict Arnold. But if there’s one person who understands Pitino’s situation, then it’s likely to be Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
Despite coaching different sports both Pitino and Saban bolted for the pros, only to return to the college game and coach their former school’s bitter rival.
Courtesy: gamedyr.com
Saban transformed a good football program into a great one when he accepted the head coaching position at LSU in November 1999. In just five years he led the Tigers to two SEC championships and a national title.
But then Saban packed his bags. moving to South Florida to coach the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. After compiling a mediocre 15-17 record, Saban realized that it was time to return to college football.
Saban dropped a bombshell by accepting the head coaching job at the University of Alabama. With that move, I’m sure Saban felt knives from residents across Cajun Country.
He didn’t just go to Tuscaloosa. What he did there is unprecedented in modern college football. The Crimson Tide have won five SEC championships, four national championships, and his team is currently on a 25-game winning streak.
Courtesy: CBSSports.com
In basketball, Pitino coached at Providence College before accepting the job in Lexington. The year was 1989 and the Wildcats were in one of the darkest periods in school history.
There’s was a major recruiting scandal under Eddie Sutton (1985-1989). The Wildcats were not only ineligible for NCAA tournament play, but all of UK’s games (per conditions of NCAA probation) were broadcast on delay, not shown until the wee hours of the morning–none telecast live.
But with an up-tempo game and full-court press Pitino restored “The Roman Empire of College Basketball” to its former glory. He put Big Blue Nation back in the national limelight.
In his third year, the Wildcats made it all the way to the Elite Eight before falling to Duke, 104-103, in double overtime, in one of the best games in college basketball history. Christian Laettner hit “The Shot” that lifted the Blue Devils to victory.
The Wildcats made the Final Four the following year and won the national championship in 1996. The Wildcats almost won the national championship in 1997, too, but fell just short in OT to Arizona in the title game.
Courtesy: kentuckysportsradio.com
Then Pitino left UK to coach the Boston Celtics. Like Saban, Pitino’s time in the pros was unremarkable. He compiled a 102-146 record during his stay in Boston.
To regain his footing, Pitino took over the reins of the Louisville Cardinals after Denny Crum announced his retirement.
Touche, Saban in Baton Rouge. Lexington was livid at Pitino.
Bill Syken of Sports Illustrated reported at the time that 38% of Kentuckians considered Petino an “enemy of the state.” Next on that list: Laettner and Bobby Knight at 18% and 12%, respectively.
And with all the success Pitino has had with the Cardinals — five Elite Eight appearances, three Final Fours, and one national championship — dislike for this 64-year-old has only intensified over the years.
But who’s the bigger traitor, Saban or Pitino? The answer is … neither.
Both coaches realized that they didn’t have what it takes to be successful in the pros. They wanted to return to college ball in the best job possible. For Saban, Alabama was the perfect job–a legendary and historic program in a state of turmoil. His job: turn around Tide fortunes. And, boy, did he ever.
Courtesy: finebaumfan.com
Will Saban ever leave Tuscaloosa? Money is definitely not an issue (Saban made a whopping $6,939,935 a year). He also has widespread support. Consider this: this year alone, 20 boys were given the name “Saban” by their Tide-supporting parents. Save for War Eagles fans, Saban has Alabamians on his side.
Meanwhile, Pitino actually did have reservations about taking the U of L job. He was prepared to go to Michigan before his wife talked him into coaching the Cardinals. “I am back in the state that I love, coaching at a great university that hasn’t had an opening in 30 years,” Pitino said shortly after he was hired. “I’m totally pumped up. I can’t wait to get started.”
And what was happening at LSU at the time Saban took the ‘Bama job? Tigers’ fans were in awe (and in full support) of a young, eccentric coach named Les Miles. And what was going on in Lexington when Pitino took the U of L gig? Big Blue Nation was still showing support for Tubby Smith.
Alabama and Louisville did what they were supposed to do when it comes to hiring a head coach: get the best person available. For their part, Saban and Pitino each took jobs at a quality program with a coaching vacancy.
Nothing more.
It’s not like they had abandoned “their school,” deciding to coach an archrival. Each went to the pros first, came up empty, and then decided to return to their comfort zone: college ball.
So Wednesday night, when millions of Kentuckians watch the UK-UL game and the camera focuses on Pitino, UK fans shouldn’t think of the U of L coach as a traitor. They need to think of him as a guy who saw an opportunity and seized it.
If UK fans want somebody to blame, let it be Tubby Smith. Yes, Smith won a national title in his first year, but that quick strike couldn’t be sustained. And sustaining a national profile is what Alabama and LSU in football, and Kentucky and Louisville in basketball, are all about.
Nothing less.
