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Nick Saban offers advice for new LSU coach Brian Kelly, talks Bryce Young’s development
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Another college football season, another year in which Nick Saban and Alabama open as the No. 1 team in the polls and the favorites to win the national championship.
To begin his SEC coaches teleconference appearance on Wednesday, however, Saban wasn’t asked about this week’s opponent, Utah State, he was asked what advice he would have for new LSU coach Brian Kelly.
Saban, of course, was the Tigers’ head coach from 2000-04, making him uniquely qualified to answer.
“It’s a good job,” Saban said. “A lot of passionate fans there. People in Louisiana are great people. They’ve got a great opportunity, great history, great tradition. I told him I thought he’d do an outstanding job there. … They’ve always had really great personnel there and now they’ve got a great coach, not that they haven’t had great coaches in the past.”
Of course, Saban was also asked to discuss his own team heading into the opener, and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young was a frequent topic of conversation.
Is the junior quarterback, who passed for nearly 4,900 yards and 47 touchdowns a year ago, capable of an even bigger 2022 campaign?
Time will tell, but Saban has been thrilled with Young’s preparation for the season.
“Bryce played great last year,” Saban said. “The guy won the Heisman Trophy. The most important thing I’ve seen is that none of what he did last year has affected what he’s doing this year. … I can’t ask more of a guy. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and he’s done it in a very positive, first-class way.”
Alabama’s game with Utah State on Saturday will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and be televised by the SEC Network.
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
