The best performances by Saban-coached players
TUSCALOOSA _ If there are times that University of Alabama coach Nick Saban seemingly has a sort of "been there, done that" reaction to something, it's probably because he has.
The only coach during the modern era to win a national championship at two different schools, Saban's career as a collegiate head coach spans 20 yards and had three previous stops: Toledo 1990; Michigan State 1995-99; LSU 2000-04.
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So when junior wide receiver Julio Jones set an Alabama record for receiving yards with 221 Saturday at Tennessee, not only was there a feeling of "I've been waiting for that," as safety Robert Lester put it, but it was only the fourth-best performance by a Saban-coached player.
Here are the Saban top 10 single-game passing, rushing and receiving games and seasons.
Of note: Michigan State usually only played 12 games. Alabama played 14 in 2009.
Also, senior quarterback Greg McElroy is on pace for 2,894 yards if Alabama plays 13 games this season, and 3,116 if it plays 14 (i.e. makes the SEC Championship Game).
Likewise, Jones is on pace for 1,086 receiving yards in 13 games, 1,170 in 14.
GAME
Passing
Yards, Name, School, Opponent, Year
528 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Alabama, 2001
444 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Illinois, 2001 (2002 bowl game)
400 Bill Burke, Michigan State vs. Michigan, 1999
383 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Kentucky, 2001
363 John Parker Wilson, Alabama vs. Tennessee, 2007
359 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Arkansas, 2001
356 Rohan Davey, LSU vs. Tennessee, 2001
348 Tony Banks, Michigan State vs. LSU, 1995
345 Bill Burke, Michigan State vs. Purdue, 1998
328 Marcus Randall, LSU vs. Troy, 2004
Rushing
Yards, Name, School, Opponent, Year
250 Alley Broussard, LSU vs. Ole Miss, 2004
246 Mark Ingram, Alabama vs. South Carolina , 2009
238 Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State vs. Penn State, 1997
229 Marc Renaud, Michigan State vs. Minnesota, 1995
218 Glen Coffee, Alabama vs. Kentucky, 2008
201 Justin Vincent, LSU vs. Georgia, 2003
183 LaBrandon Toefield, LSU vs. Utah State, 2001
173 Terry Grant, Alabama at Vanderbilt, 2007
173 LaBrandon Toefield, LSU vs. Arkansas, 2001
172 Mark Ingram, Alabama at Ole Miss, 2009
Receiving
Yards, Name, School, Opponent, Year
293 Josh Reed, LSU vs. Alabama, 2001
255 Plaxico Burress, Michigan State vs. Michigan, 1999
239 Josh Reed, LSU vs. Illinois, 2002
221 Julio Jones, Alabama vs. Tennessee, 2010
186 Josh Reed, LSU vs. Auburn, 2001
185 D.J. Hall, Alabama vs. Tennessee, 2007,
183 Josh Reed, LSU vs. Arkansas, 2001
172 D.J. Hall, Alabama at Arkansas, 2007
171 Muhsin Muhammad, Michigan State vs. LSU, 1995
164 Plaxico Burress, Michigan State vs. Northwestern, 1999
SEASON
Passing
Name, School, Year, C-A, Yards
Rohan Davey, LSU, 2001, 217-367, 3,347
John Parker Wilson, Alabama, 2007, 255-372, 2,846
Matt Mauck, LSU, 2003, 229-358, 2,825
John Parker Wilson, Alabama, 2006, 216-379, 2,707
Bill Burke, Michigan State , 1998, 195-358, 2,595
Greg McElroy, Alabama, 2009, 198-325, 2,507
Bill Burke, Michigan State, 1999, 173-312, 2,214
Tony Banks, Michigan State 1995, 156-258, 2,089
Tony Banks, Michigan State, 1994, 145-238, 2,040
Todd Schultz, Michigan State, 1997, 177-299, 2,003
Rushing
Name, School, Year, Carries, Yards
Mark Ingram, Alabama, 2009, 271, 1,658
Glen Coffee, Alabama, 2008, 233, 1,383
Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State, 1997, 246, 1,270
Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State, 1998, 272, 1,167
Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State, 1996, 237, 1,067
Marc Renaud, Michigan State, 1995, 216, 1,057
Justin Vincent, LSU, 2003, 154, 1,001
LaBrandon Toefield, LSU, 2001, 230, 992
Lloyd Clemson, Michigan State, 1999, 191, 959
Domanick Davis, LSU, 2002, 193, 931
Receiving
Name, School, Year, Catches, Yards
Josh Reed, LSU, 2001, 94, 1,740
Plaxico Burress, Michigan State, 1999, 66, 1,142
Michael Clayton, LSU, 2003, 78, 1,079
Plaxico Burress, Michigan State, 1998, 65, 1,013
D.J. Hall, Alabama, 2007, 67, 1,005
Julio Jones, Alabama, 2008, 58, 924
Derrick Mason, Michigan State, 1996, 53, 865
Derrick Mason, Michigan State, 1995, 53, 787
Michael Clayton, LSU, 2002, 57, 749
Rick Isaiah, Toledo, 1990, 717