ESPN analyst Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo had Alabama fans calling their television providers to remove First Take.
He and Stephen A. Smith debated on the greatest college football head coach of all time. Smith chose Nick Saban while Russo’s answer stunned everyone. The native New Yorker had everyone in the studio in left field. Russo hailed Ara Parseghian as the greatest college football coach. Parseghian spent 11 seasons at Notre Dame (1964-74), winning two national championships and having three 10+ win seasons. He posted a career record of 95-17-4, giving him a winning percentage of 81.9.
Mad Dog’s GOAT is not Saban.
Mad Dog’s GOAT is some coach your grandparents may not even remember.
Old heads talking crazy. @UnnecRoughness pic.twitter.com/RgXniQahjQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 24, 2022
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The pressures of being a head coach of Notre Dame became too much that he retired after the ’74 season.
Parseghian was good at a program where academics hold more priority than football, but he pales in comparison to Saban. In Saban’s first 11 seasons (2007-17), he had more 10+ win seasons (10 to 3), more national championships (5 to 2), and a better winning percentage at 86.8. Russo argues that Saban has it easy at Alabama, but the Crimson Tide is not an easy program.
Ray Perkins and Bill Curry could not maintain the same success as Paul “Bear” Bryant. Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Shula could not maintain the success of Eugene “Gene” Stallings. Saban took a program from the nails in 2007 and revived it to become the biggest brand in college football. Alabama endured sanctions, loss of scholarships, six straight years of losing to Auburn (2002-07), and fans wondering when the Tide would be great again until Saban got it going in 2008. Now, one cannot start a national championship conversation or a College Football Playoff conversation without Alabama. The rules in the sport now were not around with Parseghian. Recruiting is different, the transfer portal is here, head coaches have new a staff every year, and now NIL has brought more changes.
The pressure forced Parseghian out while Saban continues to thrive. He will turn 71 this October and enters his 16th season in Tuscaloosa. Saban recently signed a contract extension that goes through 2030. He will be the highest-paid coach this year ($11.7 million) and will make $93.6 million throughout the deal. Parseghian is good, but he does not hold a candlestick to Saban.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
