It is not normal for a defending National Champion to live in a shadow. Even when the large shadow is the Alabama football program and Nick Saban. That is where the LSU football program is today. In a place it knows well, living in the shadow of Alabama football.
Saban’s history with LSU brought the Bengal Tigers joy and sadness. He coached LSU to a National Championship in 2003. Less than a year from that championship game, Saban dashed away from Baton Rouge for the NFL. LSU fans were disappointed but given Saban’s production of a National Championship and understanding the allure of being an NFL head coach, they accepted the transition.