Why Treat LSU Like A Stepping Stone?

It seems almost a yearly occurrence, people speculating where the Louisiana State University football coach will move on to next. Will he jump to the pros? Will he jump to a “big name” school? Maybe he’ll take a job coaching his alma mater.

Nick Saban left LSU shortly after winning a National Championship in 2003 to become head coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Shortly thereafter, he left the NFL to return to the college ranks as head coach of the University of Alabama.

Fast forward a mere four years later and the LSU Tigers are National Champions again after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes. And, what controversy surrounded the LSU program shortly before the game? Would Tigers’ head coach Les Miles leave Louisiana to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan that was being vacated by Lloyd Carr.

Two National Championships in four years, in addition to regularly appearing in and finishing the season in the top 20… and people continue to talk of LSU as a stepping stone to better opportunities? Show me a college program, with the exceptions of Southern California that has comparable accomplishments recently.