Since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, only five coaches have appeared in the SEC Championship game more than once. Alabama coach Nick Saban has done so four times. Urban Meyer (Florida), Mark Richt (Georgia) and Gary Pinkel (Missouri) all represented the SEC East twice since 2007, but LSU’s Les Miles was the only coach to beat Saban to Atlanta in two separate seasons.

When the season began, Miles held the honor of being the longest tenured coach in the SEC (still active), but on Sunday LSU decided it was time for a change. Miles time leading the Bayou Bengals was over.

“Les Miles is one of the most respected colleagues in terms of the rivalry that we’ve had, the competition that we’ve had, the great teams that they’ve had,” Saban said. “I kind of hated that a man wins a national championship, wins two SEC titles and doesn’t make it through the season.”

Saban said LSU’s decision to part ways with Miles reminded him of Georgia’s situation with Richt last season. Miles’ Tigers and Saban’s Crimson Tide met on the field 10 times. Saban was the victor in those matchups more often than not winning seven times, but LSU usually kept it close. The Tigers lost twice to Saban in overtime (2008, 2014) and by as few as four points in 2012.

“I guess this is the time that we live in, everybody needs to know that, but it doesn’t minimize to any degree the amount of respect that I have for the job that Les Miles did at LSU, the great competitive teams that he’s had there for a long, long time and the amount of success that he’s had. And certainly wish him and his family well,” Saban said.