o say to me: `I could never beat Alabama. Nobody cared that nobody else could, DiNardo said.At 64 years old, Saban likely doesnt have decad

After firing the most successful football coach in the history of the program, LSU needs a home run hire.There should be no shortage of interest for what has become one of the best gigs in big-time college football, but upgrading from Les Miles is far from a sure thing. LSU could be forced to wait on the coaches at the top of its wish list if schools such as Texas and Southern California enter the market.Lets say theres a coach at Houston who may have a choice at Texas, Southern Cal or LSU, former LSU coach and Big Ten Network analysis Gerry DiNardo said, making a-not-so subtle reference to Tom Herman. What does he do?Every job has pros and cons, and coaches will have preferences and family ties to influence decisions, but generally, they are all looking for a chance to win championships.Theres a few jobs in this country that regardless of what your competition does, you can win a championship, DiNardo said, citing Alabama, Ohio State, USC and Texas among those that qualify.Someone has to slot LSU in there, said DiNardo, who went 32-24-1 for the Tigers from 1995-99. Some coach has to say, `Regardless of what anyone else does, I can win a championship at LSU. It doesnt matter if Alabama is rocking and rolling, LSU is the best job.Or at least a better job than what the coach already has. It was a relatively easy choice for DiNardo to go from Vanderbilt to Baton Rouge back in the mid-1990s, even though the Tigers had just gone through six straight losing seasons.LSU and its fans are not likely to be satisfied with a similar hire this time around. Since 2000, LSU has been one of the elite programs in college football.Nick Saban followed DiNardo and LSU blossomed along with the SEC. Since 2000, Oklahoma and Ohio State are the only Power Five conference programs that have more victories than LSU. The Tigers four SEC titles since 2000 match Alabama for the most. Miles took over for Saban and won 114 games in 12-plus seasons, including the 2007 national championship. Only Charlie McClendon (137) won more games than Miles at LSU, but it took him seven more full seasons to do it.I felt, however, that this program needed a change, and the change was necessary to give the players the best opportunity to succeed, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said Monday.Miles problems started with the 2011 national title game loss to Alabama. The Crimson Tide has won three of the last four SEC titles and two more national championships since then.The path to championships at LSU currently goes through arguably the greatest dynasty ever in college football.Charlie Mac used to say to me: `I could never beat Alabama. Nobody cared that nobody else could, DiNardo said.At 64 years old, Saban likely doesnt have decades left with the Tide, but whoever signs up for the LSU job has to figure he will be dealing with Saban for at least a few more years.Saban aside, there is no doubt that access to talent is a huge draw for coaching candidates.Louisiana is among the most fertile states in the country when it comes to producing FBS talent, and LSU has no in-state Power Five competition for those players.Most of the state kids want to be Tigers, regardless of who the head coach is, DiNardo said.LSU plugged in Ed Orgeron as interim coach while getting a head start on the competition in its coaching search, though that provides only marginal advantage if its target is an active head coach. And there is no reason to think the Tigers wont reach for the biggest prizes.Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is a former LSU assistant whom Tigers boosters covet. His resume is sterling, including a national championship, and he is the anti-Miles in that he been one of the college footballs best at developing quarterbacks.Herman has been a head coach for only two seasons, but he is the brightest of rising stars. His spread offense is the antithesis of the antiquated attack Miles was running.Thats ultimately what got Les Miles fired, former LSU defensive lineman and SEC Network analyst Booger McFarland said on ESPN.Heres what LSU wants: They want a successful head coach who runs the spread, DiNardo said. Thats why Tom Hermans perfect. I think (North Carolina coach Larry) Fedora fits in there, too.No matter who lands at LSU, heres the number to beat: .778. Thats Miles winning percentage, the best of anybody who has ever coached more than 40 football games at LSU.---This story has been corrected to show that LSU lost to Alabama in the 2011 national title game, not the SEC title game.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and the APs college football website at www.collegefootball.ap.org Pascal Siakam Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Cheap Swingman Raptors Jerseys . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. http://www.cheapraptorsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-delon-wright-jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Cheap Raptors Jerseys China . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Kyle Lowry Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. FCS Playoffs First RoundThe Matchup -- San Diego (9-1) at Cal Poly (7-4)Kickoff -- 7 p.m. ET Saturday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaCoverage -- ESPN3Series -- Cal Poly leads 5-0Players to Watch -- San Diego: QB Anthony Lawrence (197 of 286, 2,515 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs); RB/KR Jonah Hodges (1,603 yards from scrimmage, 17 TDs), Jon Peterson (19 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 13 QB hurries); Cal Poly: QB Dano Graves (2,129 yards of total offense, 26 total TDs), FB Joe Protheroe (1,212 yards, 11 TDs), ILB Chris Santini (93 tackles, 10.5 TFL)The Skinny -- Its never easy for teams to make their way to San Luis Obispo, but the Toreros know the way. These two teams have met four times in the last five years and played each other on Sept. 10, with Cal Poly winning 38-16. USD, making its second FCS playoff appearance in the last three seasons under coach Dale Lindsey, has won eight straight games since falling to Cal Poly. The non-scholarship Pioneer Football League program is surrendering the FCS lows with 12.1 points and 249.6 yards per game, and lead in average time of possession (35 minutes, 13 seconds). CB/PR Jamal Agnew is second among active FCS players with 58 career passes defended, including 11 interceptions.dddddddddddd Hodges averaged over 158 rushing yards over the final three regular-season games and the Toreros offense does a terrific job of protecting Lawrence, whose favorite target is tight end Ross Dwelley (59 receptions, 9 TDs). No matter the opponent, Cal Polys triple option offense always gets plenty of rushing yards, and the Mustangs have a slight lead in the FCS in rushing yards per game (360.6) as they try to be No. 1 in that statistic for a fourth straight year. Graves, who accounted for three TDs in the win over San Diego, makes the offense go as the Big Skys second-team quarterback, and Protheroe and Kori Garcia have combined for over 2,000 rushing yards. The defense gives up points -- 32.6 per game -- but the Mustangs have won three times when allowing more than 40 points.Up Next -- The winner plays at No. 1 seed North Dakota State (10-1) in the second round Dec. 3.Prediction -- Although San Diego has broken into the national rankings, none of the first three PFL automatic qualifiers have won in the playoffs. Cal Poly 42-31. ' ' '