The Chizik-Saban parallel continues

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http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/the_chizik-saban_parallel_cont.html

The Chizik-Saban parallel continues
Published: Monday, October 11, 2010, 10:16 AM 
Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News

One of the great nonsensical debates in this state goes something like this: Hey, who's really taller, Nick Saban or Gene Chizik?

I don't really know, and I don't really care because size, in this context, doesn't really matter.

But, metaphorically speaking, based on equal data from their first year-and-a-half in their current positions, I'd say they're about even.

They both stand pretty tall.

After 19 games at Alabama, Saban was 13-6. His second Alabama team, at 6-0, was the highest-ranked SEC team in the nation at No. 2.

After 19 games at Auburn, Chizik is 14-5. His second Auburn team, at 6-0, is the highest-ranked SEC team in the nation at No. 7.

Eerie, isn't it?

And remember, Saban brought Alabama back with Auburn in decline. Chizik has revived Auburn with Alabama at the top of its game - if you don't count what happened Saturday at South Carolina. That makes the work Chizik has done to date at Auburn even more amazing.

To continue the parallel, Chizik will have to take Auburn into the SEC Championship Game unbeaten and ranked No. 1, as Saban did in his second season with Alabama. That won't be easy, considering what the Tigers are about to face in just the next two weeks with back-to-back visits from once-beaten Arkansas and undefeated LSU.

Auburn hasn't beaten Arkansas since 2007, the year before Bobby Petrino took over the Hogs. The Tigers haven't beaten LSU since 2006, and if there's a school and a fan base that has no right to laugh at Les Miles, it's Auburn.

The Hat is 4-1 against the blue-and-orange Tigers.

Some of you didn't like it last November when I first pointed out that Chizik's rebuilding job at Auburn was starting to look a lot like the rebuilding job Saban did at Alabama. I said it then, and I'll say it again. I'm not saying Chizik is the next Saban.

For one thing, they're very different people. Although, in those Ford truck TV spots, in which Chizik, Saban and Georgia coach Mark Richt talk about toughness, Richt is the only one who seems out of place.

And another thing: Chizik has a long way to go just to approach Saban's overall resume.

But how many more games does Chizik have to win before people start to give him some respect as one of the better head coaches in the SEC?

Probably the next two. At least.

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