What if Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban Never Left the LSU Tigers?

Nov 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez during warm-ups before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Rich Rodriguez would never have left the West Virginia Mountaineers

After what took place at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez regretted leaving West Virginia. Despite all the animosity the school had toward him, he would still be in Morgantown had Saban stayed at LSU.

Rodriguez would not have left West Virginia, even if he was feeling pushed out, for any job other than an extremely high-profile one. Michigan was that in 2007, but they would have hired Miles. Nebraska was there too, but Bo Pelini was always Tom Osborne’s guy.

At the end of 2008, Tennessee and Auburn were on the list. But the athletic directors of both schools were determined to make idiotic decisions instead. Auburn always had its sights set on the unqualified Gene Chizik for reasons nobody can explain, and Mike Hamilton, obsessed with making dumb hires, was sold on Lane Kiffin.

That would mean no high-profile jobs for Rodriguez going into 2009 either.

By 2009, Rodriguez would have had more success at West Virginia and come to appreciate what he had there, and he would have made the personal decision never to leave the school at that point. As a result, he would still be there now, winning big and competing for national championships.

Who the coach at Arizona would be, I don’t know, but it would not be Rodriguez had Saban never left LSU.

And if Miles truly did become the head coach at Michigan, there is another head coach whose career would be affected, which we get to next.

Next: Jim Harbaugh Still in the NFL